Rodents Invade Homes As Winter Chill Lingers

With frigid temperatures blanketing the country, homeowners aren’t the only ones seeking shelter indoors this winter. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) warns that rodents are also looking for access to warm homes this season. In fact, the NPMA reports that rodents enter an estimated 21 million homes in the U.S. each winter.

While rodents are unwelcome house-guests for any homeowner, the real concern is that these pests can cause property damage and spread disease. Rodents such as mice serve as vectors of many common diseases, including salmonella and Hantavirus, which they spread by contaminating food and food preparation surfaces. Rodents also chew through wires, in some cases sparking house fires.

Here are a few tips to keep homes rodent-free this winter:

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of your home to help prevent rodents from finding easy entryways. Pay special attention to areas where utilities and pipes enter the home. Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
• Don't build rodent attractions near your home. Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and five inches off the ground. Keep shrubberies cut back from the house.
• Rodents can hide in clutter, so keep areas clear and store boxes off of the floor. Keep food in rodent-proof containers.
• If you find rodent feces, hear sounds of scurrying in the walls or observe other signs of an infestation, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009 and arrange for him to inspect and treat the pest problem.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net