The most common unwanted pests to welcome you into your new home are rodents. With new homes popping up in Heath, residents of CastleRock, Clements Ranch and Trinity Crossing are finding they aren’t the only ones moving in.

Whether you’ve lived in your home for a few years or a few weeks, rodents are relocating due to the increase of construction happening.

When the ground is disturbed and rodent homes are destroyed, they need to find new living arrangements. This is where your home becomes vulnerable. The smallest opening is a doorway for any rodent to enter through. The bone structure of a rodent allows them to squeeze through an opening as small as the size of a dime.

Two types of mice you may encounter are the house mouse and deer mouse. The house mouse is the more common mouse you’ll find indoors. Even though the deer mouse can find its way in, it prefers the outdoors and may seek shelter in your shed or barn. You can tell the difference between the two by their fur. The house mouse is brown or gray with white fur on their underside. The deer mouse is brown with tawny colored fur on their underside. Both range between 5-8” in length including their tail.

Two common rats that are often mistaken for one another are the Norway rat and roof rat. The Norway rat is almost ½ the size of the roof rat measuring in at 7-9” long which includes its thick tail. The roof rat with tail can get up to 16” long. These larger rodents can enter your home through a quarter size hole.

Norway rats are usually found burrowed within the ground but can find their way indoors in the fall when their water and food sources decrease. These rats aren’t climbers so you may find them in your garage or basement.

Roof rats, on the other hand, are super climbers and will climb trees near your home to find a way into your attic. I have seen these rats climb right up a solid vertical wall. They are also capable of chewing their way indoors through building materials like siding, drywall, pipes, and wood. These rodents travel in packs so if you see one there’s probably 10 more nearby.

 

Here’s some helpful tips to protect your home against rodents:

  1. Trim trees and bushes away from home.
  2. Clean yard debris
  3. Seal cracks and crevices
  4. Apply screens to open outdoor vents, pipes, and windows
  5. Keep wood and log piles away from home and any outdoor structures
  6. Keep food and trash tightly sealed
  7. Fix any water leaks
  8. Hire a professional

Hiring a professional for all pest and rodent issues before they begin can help eliminate an infestation and save money on any repairs from the damage they’ve caused.

CastleRock, Trinity Crossing and Clements Ranch are all growing communities with an ever-growing pest and rodent population. Let us help you reduce the pest population in your home. If you suspect you’ve already been invaded or want to prevent an invasion, call Safe Earth Pest Control. We have a plan to fit all your pest control needs. 214-321-2847