Some of the types of rodents that can find their way in are field mice. Others may be squirrels, chipmunks or jumping mice, or voles. All of them are definitely considered a nuisance. The redundancy of it all, many folks like to hang squirrel feeders, leave food out for the chipmunks since they are so cute. This is basically like an open invitation. There are however, ways to prevent any unwanted live in companions of this species.

Rodents thrive in any possible environment. They are found all across the world and multiply quickly if not removed from the premises. Most certainly, a clean house is the first step to preventing infestations. However, rodents can survive off any food source, natural or man-made. So it is not just a clean house, dirty house or the like that will prevent a rodent infestation. Rodents can gain access through the tiniest of openings. This is due to the small, soft skull and the flexibility of their bodies. Mice can enter a home through a crack, crevice, drainage piping that is not properly sealed off or holes found in floors, foundations or walls. The one entry point that I for one, along with millions of others never thought about, recall where your gas lines enter the home, or the pipes for other resources leave, if the surrounding area between the pipe and the home wall is not filled in, that is the easiest entrance for a rodent.

What can be done to prevent entry and infestation is sometimes a hassle, but when performed yearly, it will save headaches. This should be performed yearly, if not twice a year, same as when the batteries are changed in our smoke detectors. It is quite simple, mice and other rodents like to gnaw and eat at substances in order to get what they want. This includes foam insulation, or any form of spray block or softer insulation, anything that the homeowner uses to block entrance can be broken down by the rodents or nature itself.

Starting at the outer perimeter of the property a homeowner needs to walk around and remove any over-grown brush or piles of sticks and twigs that could become a home for any rodent. Since they are naturally nocturnal, the homeowner will not be able to notice them moving around and searching for entry points. When the brush and over-grown grass and shrubbery are kept well maintained, this will remove the first negative of an outdoor living area.

Secondly, walk around the sidewalks and steps that enter into the residence. Look for cracks or gaps in the cement. These should be filled in with cement right away. Next, look at the foundation of the residence. Are there cracks or gaps of any size along the foundation? These, too, must be filled in with cement. Keep in mind that a rodent can enter into the structure through an opening that appears too small to worry about. Fill in each and every crack you notice. This will also benefit the homeowner by preventing any further damage from happening to the foundation.

Doors and windows are the next logical step in prevention of any rodent entering your home. Any gap on the lower portion of the doors or along the side gives easy entrance to your home. Find your local hardware store and purchase metal stripping to place along the bottom of the doors. Preferable is the metal stripping, as the felt stripping can be chewed through easily. For interior doors, attaching a metal strip along the bottom of these doors will prevent the rodents from entering, if they manage to get through the outer door at all. Also, caulking along the underside of door stoops and along the sides will close gaps that form over time.

Most homeowners will winterize their home each fall; however, ensuring that each window is checked for gaps in the sill and framing will stop cold air drafts and also prevent entrance by rodents. Caulking around the window frame is the best advice. A homeowner should also ensure that the windows fit properly and have no gaps, no matter how small. There are multiple weather stripping techniques that will also help prevent mice and other rodents from gaining access through the windows. Be sure to lock the windows so that there is no chance of a top window sliding down and opening even a little, (if you have that style of window).

If nothing else makes you feel confident about the rodent prevention you have undertaken, using a trapping system will eliminate the stubborn little buggers. There are various styles and types on the market. From traps with a food that will attract them, the snapping trap and glue traps that stop a rodent in their tracks once they step on it. For those homeowners who do not choose to handle a trap of any sort, the strongest suggestion one could make is to hire a professional. They will visit on a scheduled basis and be able to remove and replace any filled traps.

Preventing mice and other rodents from entrance into your home, may very well sound tedious, but worth it in the end. A homeowner must do their part to prevent the unwanted guests in all ways possible.

Alliance Pest Services is your local rodent control and removal expert.  Rodent control and removal in New Jersey.