Avoid Mouse and Rat Infestations This Winter Season
Winter Pests Are Coming Out – Watch Out for Mice and Rat Infestations
Winter officially begins this month, which means it’s time to watch out for new pests. Mice and rats love to spend the colder months settled in your home or business, chewing wires, leaving droppings, and getting into your clothes and other items. The CDC also reminds us that rodents can spread up to 35 diseases in various different ways, like through feces, bites, urine, and even ticks. Stay safe this winter with the proper mice and rat infestation prevention with Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc.
When the chill sets in, make sure your mouse or rat traps are set. Our exterminators have over 30 years of experience in handling rodent infestations in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and we can quickly remove these pests from your home or business.
No homeowner, business owner, or patron wants to stumble across rodent droppings or find a nest of mice or rats in their space. Hotels, restaurants, and department stores must also pay close attention to rodent infestations to keep their guests safe. Learn more about spotting rodents and how to get rid of them with Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc.
Signs Mice or Rats Have Entered Your Home or Business
There are a few tell-tale signs that mice or rats have moved in. Pay special attention to your home this winter, especially when going into the attic or basement. Some signs include:
- Rodent droppings in cabinets, drawers, or in corners
- Holes in food packaging
- Nesting materials in hidden areas, like paper or fabric
- Holes in walls
If you notice these signs in your home, it’s a good indication that rodents have entered your space. It’s crucial that you do not ignore them, as both mice and rats can carry disease and can contaminate food, chew holes in clothing, or even chew electrical cords that can pose a safety hazard.
Differences Between Mice and Rats
If you have a rodent infestation you may be wondering, “does it really matter if it’s a mouse or a rat?” The answer? Yes. Mice and rats are different and cause different damage to your home or business.
The obvious difference is that rats are much larger than mice, and can be more noticeable.
Rats and mice can both breed at fast rates, meaning that the few rodents in your home can quickly turn into dozens. Mice can breed as early as six weeks old, and can have up to ten litters in their lifetime. That means that one little mouse can breed up to 60 more little mice to spend time in your space – and they can each breed dozens more. Rats are a little slower, breeding at three months old. But even so, they can still produce dozens of additional rats to spend time in basements, pantries, walls, garages, storage rooms, or other areas.
Mice will roam and investigate your space, while rats tend to stick to a path. Learning the type of rodent in your home can help to find the right areas to set traps.
Safe Rat or Mouse Traps for You and Them
Many home or business owners know that simply placing cheese or peanut butter on a standard mouse trap doesn’t always do the trick, and may choose other means of trapping rodents. Be sure to read ingredients if using any repellents or sprays, especially with pets or young children in the home.
Another thing to consider about mouse traps is making sure that they are humane. Leaving mice or rats in sticky traps or similar types can cause them to suffer for days. Check traps regularly to see if you need to relocate the rodent or clean them out.
Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc., has a well-stocked showroom full of traps and pest control products to help you avoid mice and rats this winter. Give us a call or stop by today to browse our selection or for advice on at-home treatments.
How Do I Keep Rodents from Coming Back?
It can be very difficult to keep rodents from coming back to your home or business. They seek warmth and food, which is something that your space provides. Keeping traps around entry points is a good start to deter rodents from coming into your home, or can stop them. It’s important to regularly check and set these traps to make sure there are no mice or rats in them.
Another great way to keep rodents out is sealing up any holes or cracks around your home or business. A pest inspection from Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc. can help you to find entry points and help to properly seal cracks or holes around the structure.
Finally, you can also keep rodents at bay by keeping food sealed and closed. Using containers to store garbage and food waste can also help to stop another infestation from occurring.
During your pest inspection, speak with our experienced exterminators to learn more about how to decrease the chances of a rat or mouse infestation this winter. We will be happy to discuss different options with you on how to properly treat your home or business.
Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators Can Remove Mice or Rats from Your Home
Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc., has decades of experience in mice and rat removal and extermination for the Mid-Ohio Valley. Keep your home or business clear of rodents with a pest inspection and extermination treatment. We can come back every year to check over your space to ensure that they do not return.
For more information on how to keep mice and rats away from your home, give Eastern-Burkholder Exterminators, Inc. a call at (740) 423-6887 or toll-free at (800) 510-6871. Follow us on Facebook for updates!
