Oct 23, 2020, 13:20 PM by Fred Speer

This is Rodent Awareness Week. So Clark, your friendly pest, termite, and lawn care expert, would like to educate people on how they can prevent rodents from gaining access to their living spaces.

How big of a threat are rodents in residential settings? A survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association revealed that rodents are America’s biggest pest concern for health and home issues. Rodents carry a variety of disease pathogens, and their constant gnawing on wiring can start household electrical fires.

Rodents are fascinating creatures, however, and research has shown they are more clever than most people give them credit. Did you know that rodents communicate effectively with fellow members of their colony on what routes to travel within a structure, what to avoid (e.g., traps), and what to eat? 

Some other interesting rodent facts include:

- A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of dime to gain access to your home.

- A rat can swim for three days before it will drown.

- Three percent of a rodent’s activity is spent gnawing on objects like electrical wiring and cables.

- Mice eat between 15 and 20 times a day.

- Rats only need a space the size of a quarter to slip inside a structure.

- A female house mouse can give birth to up to a dozen babies every three weeks. 

How can California and northern Nevada residents safeguard their living spaces, food, and families from rodents as temperatures cool and rodents look for a warm place to spend the fall and winter?

Here are seven tips from the Clark Pest Control rodent experts for preventing a rodent infestation in your home or apartment:

1. Install door sweeps on exterior doors, and repair damaged screens on ventilation openings and chimney vents.

2. Seal cracks and openings in the foundation, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home. Use quality materials including caulk and/or exclusion material, and don’t forget to seal up points of entry inside the garage.

3. Store food – especially pet food, a rodent favorite – in airtight containers, and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed containers.

4. Eliminate moisture sources, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.

5. Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags, and other packages brought into the home for evidence of rodents.

6. Regularly inspect under the hood of cars – a favorite nesting site for mice -- for evidence of rodents. Look for including gnawed materials, nests, droppings, or frayed wires.

7. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and keep shrubbery trimmed and cut back from the house – don’t give rodents a place to hide.

 

Check out our recent blog post: Eight signs your home may have rodents

 

Clark Pest Control remains committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify you before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.

If you are experiencing an issue with rodents, call California’s trusted, friendly rodent and pest management expert, Clark, at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or send an email to clarkcares@clarkpest.com

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keepunwanted pests out of your home and yard.