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Most pests, especially rodents, cannot tolerate the cold. They tend to take refuge in our homes during the winter. There, they find shelter, food, water, and warmth. However, cohabitation with these animals is dangerous for our health. It also affects our quality of life. In addition, the property damage caused can be significant. We must therefore consider taking rodent prevention measures before the cold weather arrives.
How do rodents behave in winter?
Rodents such as rats and mice do not hibernate in winter. They remain active. However, they prefer to continue their activities in our homes during this period. Indeed, their lives are threatened outdoors. They have difficulty finding food. In addition, the intense cold is uncomfortable.
Indoors, they can build warm nests. They often settle in dark, quiet places. They also easily find food. For example, they feed on food scraps we leave lying around. They also scavenge our garbage and even our groceries. Since they are omnivores, they nibble on almost anything!
What are the risks associated with a rodent infestation?
Material damage
Property damage poses a significant risk of rodent infestation. Their jaw structure allows them to gnaw through a variety of objects and food.
Here are some elements of the house that rodents particularly appreciate:
- Cables: The risk of short circuits or fires is high when exposed, especially if they come into contact with water. You should therefore regularly check the wiring in your home during the winter to avoid any incidents.
- Wood: Rats chew on wood to maintain good teeth. They also gnaw on wooden structures such as doors, beams, or baseboards to create a passageway.
- Pipes: Rodents also love PVC pipes, so their presence will endanger drains.
- Cars: Vehicles are one of rodents' favorite places. They can find plenty of things to gnaw on. They're also protected from the cold. The cost of repairing damage caused by their presence can be very high.
Diseases
Rodents are formidable disease vectors that must be avoided. Indeed, they can transmit around forty diseases. These include the plague, salmonellosis, and typhus. Furthermore, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, caused by these pests, has killed 36% of its victims.
Rodents leave saliva, droppings, and hair as they move around. Disease-carrying bacteria and viruses are transmitted to humans through them. Thus, an object or product can become infected without having been bitten by the animal. This is why an infestation poses a risk to human health.
How to prevent a winter rodent infestation?
Manage waste
Rodents are attracted to waste. Leaving even a small amount within their reach encourages them to move into our homes. They find it a source of food essential to their survival. Therefore, it's important to manage your waste properly to avoid a rat/mouse infestation.
We show you how to do it:
- Install the garbage bins at a height of 30 cm from the ground;
- Store garbage in a container with a lid;
- Collect waste regularly;
- Maintain garbage bins regularly;
- Avoid leaving your waste lying around, whether indoors or outdoors.
Fill holes and cracks
Rodents are clever. They always find a way to get into our homes, even if the doors and windows are tightly closed. They can enter through holes, cracks, and gaps. They can also penetrate pipes and gutters. Here are some steps you can take to prevent an infestation:
- Inspect the entire walls to identify any holes that need to be filled;
- Seal the cracks;
- Install screens over gutter and drain openings. Be sure to leave openings for infiltrating rodents to escape. However, install a multi-catch mouse trap. This is a safe solution if you have children and/or pets.
Invest in a rodent trap
Investing in a rodent trap is a quick solution to prevent a rat/mouse infestation. You can use it both indoors and outdoors. Take the Catchmaster 612MC, for example. Its ability to catch multiple mice at once is the biggest advantage of this solution. You can therefore install it in narrow and/or dusty areas. This allows you to catch animals located in hard-to-reach places without killing them.
On the other hand, it is best to use rat poison traps as little as possible if you want to find the corpses.
While they do effectively eliminate rodents, they have one notable drawback. The animal will die in its hiding place, making access to the corpse somewhat difficult. Instead, consider a bait station. The appeal of this model lies in its realistic appearance and easy maintenance. Simply open it to remove the trapped animal before disposing of it.
Conclusion
Want to prevent winter rodent infestations? Start by adopting good habits, especially regarding your waste management. Also, repair any holes and cracks they may be able to enter through. Finally, invest in rodent traps now! At L'Exterminateur en Ligne, you'll find effective products at competitive prices. We invite you to visit our website to discover our catalog. You'll also find explanatory videos for each solution we offer. Finally, remember that we're always available if you have any questions!
It can be effective to contact a professional exterminator such as Solution Cimex but in many situations you can save costs and do it yourself thanks to our products.