There is something special about owning a home. It produces a feeling unlike anything else; knowing that a small part of the world belongs to you and is under your care can be wonderful. One thing that comes from this feeling is the need to keep living areas safe from intruders both big and small.
Common intruders that regularly invade homes here in Worcester are rodents. These furry problem makers are not just annoying, they are also destructive and dangerous. In addition to this, they are extremely hard to control. To help you understand why DIY rodent control is rarely a good solution, here are some things to consider.
Rodents Breed Rapidly
Rodents are not solitary creatures. They regularly travel and live together. This combined with their rapid breeding often leads to fast-growing infestations. To put this into perspective, a single female mouse gives birth five to ten times each year and has three to fourteen pups. In addition to this, it only takes a baby mouse six to eight weeks to become sexually mature. This is why it is crucial to handle rodent infestations inside your home as soon as you know they are there.
Rodents Are Adept At Avoiding Danger
Two things that make rodents difficult to eliminate are their ability to avoid danger and their ability to adapt to their surroundings. To start, they primarily live inside wall/ceiling voids and only come out at night for food and water. They are quick learners and have shown in studies that they are able to identify danger and adapt to avoid it. After just a short time inside a home, rodents will learn what pathways are safest to travel and start developing strategies to scavenge for food and water without getting hurt in the process.
Store-Bought Rodent Traps Are Only So Effective
Store-bought traps, although somewhat effective, are not a guaranteed solution to rodent problems. More specifically, store-bought traps are not intended to solve larger infestations. Snap traps, for instance, are designed to catch a single rodent and are less and less effective as rodents figure them out. This is also true about a number of other store-bought traps.
Some Prevention Tips For Rodents
Although we do not recommend DIY elimination strategies for rodents, we highly recommend that you take some time to prevent these pests if you have the time and energy to do so. To help with this, here are some tips and tricks our experts suggest you try:
- Use a caulking gun to seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and spacing around window/door frames.
- Make sure your weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window/door screens are in good working order.
- Reduce clutter around your property and eliminate debris.
- Clean up food and water messes as they occur around your home.
- Fix leaky piping and address broken fixtures.
- Store leftover food inside airtight containers.
- Pick up and clean out your pet’s food and water bowls after every meal.
Why Professional Assistance Is Needed For Rodent Infestations
If you suspect your home has a rodent infestation, do not waste your money on DIY solutions. Instead, get the experts at Big Blue Bug Solutions involved. We have access to industrial-grade rodent control products and are trained to treat rodent infestations of all sizes. With just one visit, our technicians will assess your problem and walk you through how they plan on getting your home the assistance it needs to get rodent-free, fast. Call us now to hear your options for service and schedule your Worcester home for a thorough inspection.