The continually changing weather conditions have caused homeowners to experience unusually high rodent activity recently. We thought this would be a good time to dispel some urban myths about rodents and rodent bait.
Fact or fiction ….. There are rodent baits that embalm the mouse/rat so it doesn’t smell when it dies. Fiction! Though we certainly wish this were true, there is no bait that will “dry up” the rodent when it dies.
Fact or fiction …. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a pencil. Fact! Their physiology allows mice and even rats fairly easy access into our homes. A mouse needs only ¼ of an inch for access and a rat needs only a ½ inch gap.
Fact or fiction …. There are rodent baits that cause the mouse/rat to go outside to die in search of water. Fiction! When the mouse/rat becomes ill from the poison, it will usually return to the nest area where it feels safe.
Fact or fiction …. A rat can swim through a sewer line and emerge in the toilet bowl. Fact! A Norway rat can tread water for up to 4 days and hold it’s breath for 15 minutes.
Now that we have busted some common myths, we’d like to provide homeowners with some good information on ways to help prevent or minimize rodent infestations.
One crucial step to prevent a rodent problem inside is to make the yard as inhospitable to mice and rats as possible. With this goal in mind, any debris in the yard that could provide shelter for rodents should be eliminated. Potential harborage culprits could include construction material remnants, tree trimming or removal debris, unused pet shelters, overgrown shrubs, etc.
An additional factor to consider is that when daylight is visible around a door, mice can enter, and conditioned air “hot or cold” can escape. By replacing worn weather stripping and thresholds, homeowners can prevent easy access for mice and reduce utility bills as well.
If you should experience a problem with mice, or any other pest, please contact Mr. Bugg’s Pest Patrol for an evaluation today.
