The rodents can enter your home any time, but are most likely to do so in Winter when they’re looking for warm places to hide. It’s impossible to keep your home rodent-proof. Rats can squeeze through spaces as small as your thumb, and mice can squeeze through holes as large as your little finger. There are a few key things you can do to reduce the likelihood of hearing “bumps in your night”.

Buildings that are rodent/possum proof can be used.

Rodents will not be able to enter your home or build a nest if you take these steps.

1. Seal all cracks and holes in walls, floors and roofs. This can be difficult due to the tiny holes that rodents can fit through. However, blocking the holes is a long-lasting solution. You may have to use thick wire, metal plates, or expandable foam depending on the size and shape of the hole. Remember that rodents can gnaw through any material, so use strong materials.
2. Remove all vegetation around the building. Some rodents will dig their own burrows. Overgrown areas of vegetation that provide shelter are popular.
3. Prune all branches that are overhanging the structure. The rats are excellent climbers, and they will use palms, bushes and trees to gain access to roof voids.
4. Rodent barriers should be placed around extension roofing supports and drainpipes. You should protect any vertical structure that allows a rat access to the roof void (such as a vertical support for decking roofs). This can be done by using a guard that any rodent trying to climb up the structure will not be able to get around.
5. Keep the subfloor free of all belongings and garbage. Keep the sub-floor of your home free from belongings and garbage. These items can provide a lot of nesting space for rodents (and could make it easier to get termites into your home as well).

Improve sanitation / eliminate potential food sources

The goal of improved sanitation is to eliminate rodent food sources.

1. Put your garbage in containers that are sealed and rodent-proof.
2. All food must be stored in rodent-proof containers that are sealed. It is best to use thick plastic containers with tightly fitting lids. This will also help to prevent pantry moth infestations.
3. Pet food should not be left outside. After feeding, cat and dog food must be brought inside or thrown out.
4. Smart feeding programs for outdoor animals are essential. Implement a feeding program that minimizes the amount of food waste that rodents would have access to. This includes chickens, rabbits, and other animals that are fed grain-based foods.

It is important to keep your home free of rodents, not only so you can get a good night’s sleep, but also because they carry diseases and spoil food through their feeding, urinating, and feces. Their gnawing habit, which involves chewing electrical wiring, is also the cause of a lot of ‘unexplained fires’.

If you find that rodents are living in your home, you’ll need to act. The best solution is to call a professional pest control company. You can tackle the problem on your own, but make sure to follow all safety precautions to ensure safe pest control.  For more info about – pest control in Varsity Lakes.