Top Critter Control Tips For Homeowners

Finding a snake in your pool, a cockroach crawling around on the ceiling, or a hersing iguana in your toilet aren’t pleasant ways to spend an afternoon. Fortunately, pest control technicians have the expertise to remove them quickly and safely.

To prevent pests, make your home unappetizing by removing their food and shelter sources. Wipe down your counters, sweep and mop regularly, and store food in airtight containers.

Seal Off Entry Points

Trapping them and carrying out exclusion activities are essential for critter control Orlando FL. It entails locating and closing any opening or crack that leads inside the house. When done correctly, this helps keep them out even after trapping and sanitation. That is why hiring a company that repairs trapping and exclusion is vital.

Rodents are notorious for chewing through drywall and insulation and gaining access to ductwork and other electrical wiring. The best way to prevent rodents from entering your home is to regularly check and repair deteriorating trim and fascia boards, open chimneys, holes in attic vents, and more.

It’s also essential to promptly wipe crumbs off counters, store food in airtight, chew-proof containers, and empty pet bowls. Also, keep shrubs and trees away from your house to help eliminate “highways” for critters. For more significant gaps, you can use steel wool and caulk for small holes, hardware cloth, lath metal, or cement.

Clean Up After Rodents

Rodents can transmit over 35 diseases to humans through contact with their droppings, urine, and saliva. They also can cause damage to home structures, electrical wires, and food containers.

When you suspect a rodent infestation, it’s essential to take prompt action and clean up the area. Wear proper equipment, including rubber/latex gloves and a face mask. Look for signs of rodents in your home or building, such as gnaw marks and tracks, chewed or contaminated foodstuffs, overturned trash cans, and nesting materials.

If you find rat or mouse droppings in your home, sweep them up and dispose of them in a garbage bin. Then, spray all surfaces touched by feces or urine with a disinfectant solution. Mop floors and countertops with disinfectant, shampoo rugs, and upholstered furniture. Wash bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals exposed to rodent urine or droppings in laundry detergent and hot water.

Keep Your Pets Indoors

Pests such as ants, rodents, and mosquitoes can cause structural damage and carry and transfer dangerous diseases. Rodents can chew through wires and start house fires, while ants, roaches, and mosquitoes may bite and sting.

Keep pets indoors to reduce the likelihood of them escaping into open spaces and becoming prey to critters and other dangers, such as traffic accidents. Ensure their cages are large enough and clean, and sanitize them regularly.

Keep the kitchen neat, frequently wiping crumbs from counters and appliances and storing food in tight, closed containers. Outside, regularly examine and repair soffits, chimneys, roof vents, attic vents, gutters, and utility entry points to prevent rodents from entering. Fill cracks with caulk or steel wool, and seal openings using weather stripping, lath metal, cement, hardware cloth, or foam. Clear debris and overgrowth from your yard, removing hiding places for rodents. Also, place bird feeders more than 100 feet away from the house.

Keep Your Yard Clean

When protecting your home from critters, keeping your yard clean is an important step. Checking and sealing entry points can help keep pests away, but you’ll also want to trim shrubbery to prevent critters from hiding behind them.

Wildlife will often visit your garden to forage for food, so it’s essential to take steps to deny them the chance to do so. For instance, placing a fence around your garden or covering it with an insulated cover can discourage deer and rabbits from ravaging your crops. Strapping or bingeing your trash cans will keep these opportunistic scavengers from raiding your bins.

It’s also essential to keep garbage cans and pet dishes out of reach of animals. If you have outdoor troughs for feeding birds, place them as far away from your house as possible and remove any bird feed that’s left uneaten. Spreading a few strands of human hair around your yard may also help deter rabbits and squirrels.