Jan 26, 2015, 14:36 PM by User Not Found

Mice can be a big problem during the winter months. We at Clark Pest Control have provided a list of signs that you have mouse in your house.

Did you know that rodents will invade approximately 21 million homes this winter? That statistic from the National Pest Management Association confirms what the Clark Man already knew – that these furry little intruders have no intention of taking the winter off!

Rodents, especially house mice, are the most active of winter pests. Like many pests, rodents seek warmer digs in the winter, preferably with an abundant supply of food, water and nesting materials.

Rodents are a crafty bunch and will wait patiently for the right opportunity – a door left propped open, a box of off-season clothes brought in from a storage area, an open bag of pet food or a small crack in the foundation – to enter your home. Rodents only need an opening of ¼- to ½-inch to gain access to your home. And, unlike a herd of noisy teenagers, they won’t announce their arrival until after they have settled in.

What are the most common signs of a possible rodent infestation in your home? They can include the following:

• Rodent droppings (usually black in color and ¼- to ½-inch long) and urine (best detected using a black light).
• Chewed electrical, computer or cable wiring (a major cause of electrical fires).
• Unexplained chewing or gnaw marks on carpet, upholstery, drapes, furniture and baseboards.

What areas of your home are most vulnerable to attracting an unwanted rodent infestation? The Clark Man has identified the following locations as “rodent hot spots”:

• Attached garages and carports, along with storage areas above these locations where storage boxes, pet food and other items are found
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinet voids
• Back base voids of refrigerators, stoves and kitchen appliances
• In utility rooms and areas beneath, and within base voids of furnaces, washers and clothes dryers
• In wall, ceiling and floor voids
• In the insulation of attics and in the contents of the attic (i.e., storage boxes)
• In basements near utility feed lines.
• Firewood stacked next to the house and near a door

The Clark Man recommends that you seal cracks in the foundation of your house or utility pipe openings with caulk or other appropriate materials to deny rodents easy access, and that you make sure the weather stripping around exterior doors is in good repair.

Also, be sure to keep food in sealed containers, do not to leave pet food in the bowl overnight, and closely inspect any boxes you bring in from storage areas or that are delivered for signs of rodent infestation.

Remember, if an unwanted pest crosses your path and you require residential rodent control, call 800/WE-NEED-YOU or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com

Until next time, I’m the Clark Man – and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.