You might have already heard the phrase “prevention is better than cure” many times before. But no matter how cliche this saying might be, it’s the truth. When it comes to pest infestation, especially with rodents, this should be applied.
You will never have to go through a stressful experience or spend a lot of money on rodent extermination if you prevented them from invading your home in the first place. It’s also one of the most vegan ways to deal with rodent problems.
Prevention of rodent infestation isn’t only applicable to households that haven’t experienced rodent infestation yet. But it’s also a crucial part of pest management, which is done after removing the pests from the home. Below are the things you can do to help prevent rats and mice from entering your home.
Conduct Inspection
The first thing that you should do is to conduct an inspection inside, outside, and around your house. Check for any signs of rodent presence to know whether you already have an existing problem or not.
Once you notice any signs of infestation, you must first get rid of the rodents that have already infiltrated your home. You can choose a method of pest removal that you are most comfortable with, but it is highly recommended to use a natural method.
On the contrary, if rats and mice haven’t entered your home yet, you can skip this step and move on to the next.
Seal Your Home
Sealing your home is a great way of ensuring that no rats or mice will be able to enter your house. Rats can squeeze through quarter-sized holes. Search your house for any openings that are that big or bigger. Use the necessary materials to seal them. It can be plaster, cement, caulk, and the like. If there are significant cracks, weatherstrip the windows and doors.
If you have a crawlspace on your home, you need to install galvanized steel mesh throughout your house’s foundation. You should also seal off your joists to prevent rats from entering and damaging your crawl space insulation.
Remove Food Source
One of the main reasons why rodents enter a house is food. And when there is no food for them to easily reach, there will be no rats and mice attempting to enter your home. Therefore, you have to ensure that all food will be stored in an airtight container and be kept in the right place where rodents can’t easily access it.
You also need to consider that rats are resourceful. So, storing your food properly will not be enough. You must be vigilant in handling them since they will find food on your property. Garbage cans should always be covered.
As your garden and tree products ripen, harvest them. Fruits and veggies that fall to the ground should be picked up and composted. Feed outdoor animals during the day, and never leave food out to rot. Pet food should never be kept outside unless it is secured in rodent-proof containers.
By wrapping the trunk of your tree with a piece of sheet metal that is 2 feet high, you can protect your tree from rats. Keep the garden free of garbage and hiding places. To ward off pests, grow plants from the mint family in and around your yard.
Spray Using Organic Pesticide
You can create your own organic pesticides and use them to spray your garden and your surroundings to help ward away rodents. One of the most effective ingredients you can use in creating your vegetarian pesticides is peppermint.
Mice hate the smell of peppermint, and it has been observed that they avoid places where peppermint grows. Therefore, using this ingredient in creating an organic pesticide will help prevent rodents from entering your property.
You can use this to spray your garden, bushes, and even the exterior walls of your home to make your surroundings smell like peppermint, and no rodents will attempt to come close. You can also throw in some cayenne pepper, cloves, and pepper into your concoction to make it more powerful against rodents.
Moreover, you can also make use of predator urine spray that you can acquire from your local garden shop. However, you have to remember that although it’s considered organic, it’s not humane, which goes against the standards of vegan pest control.
Eliminate Their Habitat
Aside from food, rodents invade properties for shelter. So, you will need to take time and clean your home and surroundings. Remove all the items where rodents may thrive. Clear your premises of trash, including limbs, old appliances, or automobiles.
If you have timber or wood, pile it at least 18 inches above the ground. You also need to store them at least a foot away from your house and any other walls. Rats like dense foliage to be a fantastic hiding place, so remove it.
It’s always best if you keep your property clean and avoid stockpiling wood or timber. Make it open and clear that rodents will not find any place to live in.
Always Keep Your Property Clean
Cleaning your property should be done more than once. It should be done regularly. If your home is clean, you can be rest assured that there will be no rodents attracted to your home. Make time to clean your home and your entire property.
Schedule daily and weekly cleanings for the different parts of your property. Avoid hoarding anything inside or outside your home.
Contact Your Local Pest Control
Hiring a pest control team, especially those who specialize in eco-friendly pest control, will help you keep your home rodent-free. They will not only eliminate pests but also provide a permanent solution such as prevention.
These experts are equipped with the proper knowledge about rodents, experience, and equipment that will make the process quick and easy. Plus, you will never have to do all the hard work yourself. What you will need to do is to pick up your phone, contact the team, sit back, relax, and enjoy a rodent-free home.
To Sum It Up
There are so many things you can do to prevent a rodent infestation on your property. Your home is a place where you should relax, be confident, and feel safe. But with rodent infestation, the peace of your home will quickly turn into chaos.
So what are you waiting for? Start using the tips provided and prevent rodents from entering your home immediately.
