Five Tips to Rodent-Proof Your Home

As the cool temperatures start to settle in for the next few months, Orkin advises homeowners to pest-proof their homes, garages and sheds now, because fall is when most insect and rodent pests seek shelter for the winter months.


"With temperatures recently dropping into the 40s, rodents and other pests tend to move inside structures this time of year to find a warm place to overwinter and breed," said Jim Warneke, Orkin's Southeast division technical services director.

A pregnant female mouse can produce an average of eight pups in a litter, and a rat, seven pups on average, and there are typically four to five litters per year. Their gestation period is about a month, so before you know it, one mouse can turn into a major problem for homeowners.

Mice can fit through an opening the size of a dime, so it is important to fix any cracks in and under siding, doors and windows. In addition to warmth, rodents enter homes looking for food and water. They prefer cereals and grains, but will eat just about anything.

As you prepare your home for winter, Orkin recommends the five following tips:
Make sure all holes, gaps and cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch are sealed.

• Replace door sweeps and make sure doors and windows close tightly. 
• Clean out gutters and install gutter guards to prevent leaves and debris from accumulating. 
• Store firewood as far from the home as possible.
•  Trim branches, plants and bushes that hang over the home.

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I have two cats, no mice, lizards and no bunnies. Coincidence? I think not!