Mice/Mouse/Rat/Rodent Infestation Signs and Control in Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Burnaby

HOW TO PREVENT MICE/RAT INFESTATION

Mice Infestation Indicators

The first sign of having mice in your house are small circular droppings up to a 1/4″ long. If you have larger droppings you may be dealing with a rat infestation or other type of rodent. Usually you will find the droppings or urine stains along your baseboards in your house. Mice tend to have bad eyesight and will run along objects to find their way. Second, you will find holes in walls and into food products. Mice are pretty amazing chewers, and will gnaw through just about anything. Next you may begin to hear rustling or scratching noises in your walls which may be the early signs of a nest. You also might see these little guys right out in the open.

Why do we need to control rats and mice?

There are three main reasons rodents must be controlled:

they can transmit many diseases to humans, including salmonella (food poisoning)
they contaminate food and food preparation surfaces
they cause damage by gnawing woodwork, water pipes and electric cables (which can cause house fires).

How to Control Mice Infestations

The most important thing when trying to control a mice infestation is controlling or preventing the cause of the mice in the first place. If you don’t take care of the root problem that invited these little guys into your home in the first place, you will be fighting a never ending battle. Follow the following tips.

Seal up holes inside and outside the home to prevent entry by rodents

Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel, and rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a half dollar! Prevent rodents from entering the home by checking inside and outside the house for gaps or holes.

Where to look for gaps or holes inside your home

Inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and stoves.
Inside closets near the floor corners.
Around the fireplace.
Around doors.
Around the pipes under sinks and washing machines.
Around the pipes going to hot water heaters and furnaces.
Around floor vents and dryer vents.
Inside the attic.
In the basement or crawl space.
In the basement and laundry room floor drains.
Between the floor and wall juncture.

Where to look for gaps or holes outside your home

In the roof among the rafters, gables, and eaves.
Around windows.
Around doors.
Around the foundation
Attic vents and crawl space vents.
Under doors.
Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable, and gas lines.

Fill small holes with steel wool. Put caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place. Use lath screen or lath metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix large holes. These materials can be found at your local hardware store. Fix gaps in trailer skirtings and use flashing around the base of the house. If you do not remember to seal up entry holes in your home, rodents will continue to get inside. Outbuildings and garages should also be sealed to prevent the entrance of rodents

Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites

Eliminate possible rodent food sources

Keep food in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids.
Clean up spilled food right away and wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use.
Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean.
Always put pet food away after use and do not leave pet-food or water bowls out overnight.
Keep bird feeders away from the house and utilize squirrel guards to limit access to the feeder by squirrels and other rodents.
Use a thick plastic or metal garbage can with a tight lid.
Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible (100 feet or more is best).
Keep grains and animal feed in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. In the evening, uneaten animal feed should be returned to containers with lids.

If storing trash and food waste inside the home, do so in rodent-proof containers, and frequently clean the containers with soap and water. Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis, and pick up or eliminate clutter.

CONTROL

If you still got the problem call IDEAL PEST CONTROL at 604-543-1457 to illiminate them from your home and bussiness
.ideal pest control offers first class rodent control using the following process.

1) Thoroughly inspect the premises to determine what the food sources may be. Determine the entry points and travel routes

2) Consult with customer regarding corrective measures to discourage rodents and methods of immediate control.

3) Apply appropriate control using bait or traps, depending on the conditions.

4) Schedule future service calls if required.