Five Of the Most Effective Rodent-Prevention Tips for Bay Area Residents

In the Bay Area, we have four rodents that commonly enter structures. They are house mice, Norway rats, roof rats, and tree squirrels. Each of these rodents requires slightly different control strategies, but there are five things you can do to keep all of these potential pests out of your Bay Area home. Let's take a look at them.

1. Seeds And Nuts

Do you know that all rodents have a preference for seeds and nuts? If you grew up watching cartoon rodents going after cheese, you need to put that image out of your mind. Mice, rats, and squirrels prefer seeds and nuts above most other foods. Here are a few ways you can use this knowledge to reduce rodent activity near your Bay Area home:

Do you have bird feeders on your property? You might as well call them rodent feeders. The seeds that fall to the ground are a strong attractant. Rodents may even directly target feeders to get a bite to eat. Remove bird feeders or move them well away from your exterior walls to deter rodents.

Do you have trees that produce acorns or nuts? If so, you need to stay on top of raking up these food items. When you rake them up, be sure that you don't store the bags near your home. Like bird feeders, they should be stored off your property or well away from your exterior walls.

It goes without saying that you shouldn't put peanuts out to feed the squirrels. While it is certainly fun to have squirrels come up and grab a nut, those nuts can lead to trouble. Not only will they attract mice and rats, they could invite squirrels to explore your exterior and get into your attic spaces.

2. Garbage

Do you know that mice and rats can get into your garbage? These two types of rodents have an impressive ability to climb, jump, and gnaw their way into trash receptacles. If you don't want to have trouble with these two rodent pests, we recommend that you deodorize your trash receptacles routinely and make sure that you always have covers on your receptacles. On top of this, it is a good idea to keep garbage, particularly food matter, inside plastic bags. Don't put food directly into your receptacles.

3. Caulking

A mouse, rat or squirrel can chew through caulking material. But sealing entry points in your exterior with caulk is actually very effective at keeping rodents out. This is because rodents are drawn to tiny openings, and they will chew on them to make them large enough to enter. If there is no opening, rodents won't have as much reason to chew an entry point into your home.

When considering entry points, it is important to consider exterior doors. Replace weatherstripping, align double doors, install door sweeps, and fill in holes that develop in door frames. These will help to keep rodents out. 

4. Exclusions

If rodents have a reason to chew their way into your home, you might notice gnaw marks. When you do, you can use metal flashing or hardware cloth to stop them. In certain cases, you may even be able to use these materials proactively, such as installing hardware cloth in your louvers.

5. Remove Pathways

Rodents can scale your exterior walls, climb trees, and run across wires. It is essential that you remove pathways to make it more difficult for rodents to get on your roof. There are several vulnerabilities up there.

• Trim tree branches so that no branches come within four feet of your roofline.
• Put wire mesh in downspouts to allow rainwater to run out but stop rodents from climbing up.
• Put something prickly at the juncture where wires attach to your home.

When Rodent Control Is Required

There are circumstances that can make it difficult to keep mice, rats, and squirrels out of your Bay Area home. If you're having trouble deterring these animals, targeted control might be necessary. This is best applied by a licensed professional. Mice, rats, and squirrels all have the potential to be very difficult pests to control.

Effective Rodent Prevention In The Bay Area

Remember that the team here at Bay Pest is always available to help you get effective solutions to your pest concerns. If rodents are an issue for you, we can guide you toward the right plan to get complete control of these troublesome animals. Reach out to us today with any questions, or to request a pest control evaluation for your Bay Area property. We'll do the rest. You don't have to live with rodents getting into your home. At Bay Pest, we provide industry-leading pest control to arrest infestations and provide proactive pest management to keep pests out.