It's that time of year where rats and mice are apt to enter our homes. Lets talk a bit about their abilities and senses first.
Rats and mice cannot see very good beyond 3 or 4 feet but have a very good sense of motion up to 30 to 50 feet away and for the most part they are color blind. Rodents are most active at night.
These rodents have a very good sense of taste so baits may be rejected by them if they are contaminated with insecticides or odors from other chemicals. Even touching baits after smoking a cigarette will make these rodents to shy away from the baits.
Rats and mice also have a good sense of smell. They mark pathways with urine and use their sense of smell to recognize the odors of the pathway to and from food sources.
Their hearing is much better than humans and make noises in various situations such as mating.
Rodents have a highly developed sense of touch due to their sensitive body hairs. They rely heavily on touch and smell to guide them through movements. The territories of most rats are between 50 and 150 feet from the nest. For mice the average territories within buildings are between 10 and 30 feet.
Rodent Proofing Your Home
The best way to control mice and rats is to make it impossible for them to enter your home. That can be difficult with mice because they can pass through an opening only 3/8 inch thick. In general, all openings greater than 1/4 inch thick should be sealed for mice and all openings greater than 1/2 inch should be sealed for rats.
Check all openings around utility lines that enter your home, around service conduits such as water pipes, electric wires, air-conditioning units, drain pipes and vents should all be sealed. Also check for broken windows and unscreened vents. Vents should be covered with metal grillwork backed by rust-resistant screening. Roofs should be checked to see that shingles are down tight and sheathing is complete. Check roof ventilators, screen vents and in wall vents.
Make sure you check under sinks where pipes enter the wall. This is a great area for mice and rats to enter your home or business.
Copper mesh stuffing, course steel wool, sheet metal, hardware cloth and mortar can be used to seal the spaces around these areas. Just use your imagination.
These are not all areas that mice and rats can enter your home. Its impossible for me to think of everywhere. Like I said, just use your imagination.
About The Author
The author of this article has been in the pest control business for over 10 years and has cleaned many homes of rodents and insects pests. To find out more about insects and other pests and to receive a free pest identification guide please visit his website. http://www.infobreaks.com
If you are concerned about asbestos exposure you are not... Read More
Wholesale vinyl flooring is the perfect solution for people who... Read More
A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your... Read More
Many people dream about a log home in their future... Read More
This article takes a look at a number of ways... Read More
Nothing makes your home more welcoming than the warmth and... Read More
The installation of a toilet is a relatively easy job... Read More
Unfinished furniture has started to become extremely popular in the... Read More
If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More
Are you overloaded? Have you become a part of the... Read More
Standing tall and big are the stately grandfather clocks. They... Read More
What home improvements really pay off when the time comes... Read More
This article is intended for the DIY (Do It Yourself)... Read More
If you would like to make your existing home more... Read More
A bathroom designs idea -- can I really design my... Read More
If you are planning a home makeover or remodeling project,... Read More
Conservatories remain a popular accoutrement and attachment to homes throughout... Read More
Heat your pool with a Solar Pool Heater and save... Read More
"Dr. Carl Sagan once wrote, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting... Read More
Is your bathroom looking cluttered? How about fitting new bathroom... Read More
Learning interior design can be a simple or complicated task... Read More
All of us live in houses but how many of... Read More
Even if you've never been involved in the sale of... Read More
"What they don't tell you about Honda Pressure Washers"I recently... Read More
Want to improve the look of your property? Want to... Read More
It is quite unusual in the UK for a new... Read More
Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing... Read More
Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their... Read More
Ok, you are ready to build a log home. If... Read More
You have decided to make the plunge and begin to... Read More
What would you like in the backyard that is great... Read More
One of the first steps in building a log home... Read More
As a former home automation installer and a former manufactures... Read More
High quality residential and commercial mailboxes are available in styles... Read More
For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More
Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?Do I need... Read More
Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in existence.... Read More
The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that the way... Read More
Hydronic, or hot water, heating has been standard for years... Read More
When double glazing first became a popular window choice in... Read More
In our past articles I talked about all the steps... Read More
There are numerous styles of Persian carpets. In fact there... Read More
Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best investments a... Read More
The quest for more living space these days means making... Read More
The bed represents the beginning and ending of life. In... Read More
Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's... Read More
As we become more of a home-based society, many more... Read More
Hand hooked rugs are a great way to add splendor... Read More
For many years copper has been the main raw material... Read More
When it comes to home water filters and water purifiers,... Read More
It is quite unusual in the UK for a new... Read More
Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health... Read More
The modern look is a highly admired form of interior... Read More
Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House... Read More
Anyone that has a home office or bedroom in the... Read More
Isn't it funny how people shelve projects for the new... Read More
Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe... Read More
Any advice or guide on the interior design of a... Read More
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to MaterialsThe... Read More
Small cabin plans - how do you find that special... Read More
It turns out your mother was right after all --... Read More
Colors contain underlying psychological meanings and evoke particular feelings when... Read More
It happens to countless homeowners around the end of the... Read More
When we left off last week, we had removed the... Read More
1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the... Read More
Home Improvement |