Thanks to their truly opportunistic nature, rodents will happily scurry into your home if given the slightest chance. As outdoor temperatures fall and food becomes quite scarce, their drive to get inside increases even more. Thankfully, with an understanding of just how they accomplish that feat, it’s much easier to block their entry and keep your home rodent free. Here’s what you need to know.

Common Entry Points for Rodents

Mice, rats, and other rodents can squeeze into gaps smaller than you’d like to believe. Field mice, for example, just need a ¼-inch wide space to fit through to gain access into your home. Basically, if their tiny heads can fit, so can the rest of their body. For that reason, they can easily gain access through the following areas.

Seals

Weatherproofing materials around windows and doors wear out over time, leaving small gaps that are prime rodent entry points. By restoring your seals whenever they start to break down, you can not only prevent infestations, but also keep drafts to a minimum. Beyond replacing the rubber weatherstripping, remove and reapply all the caulk as well to achieve the best results.

Holes

Homes often have plumbing pipes, wiring, and vents coming into the living space from various points, including the crawlspace. Those elements do not usually fit perfectly in their holes, leaving small spaces for rodents to fit through. You must block the gaps with the right material to keep your home functioning right without letting rodents move in.

Vents

Ridge and attic vents allow moisture to escape your home and keeps mold from ruining your building materials. Unfortunately, they are also excellent entry points for rodents keen on finding somewhere warm to live. Although they should have flashing and other barriers around their perimeter, that’s not always the case.
Blocking off open entry points is your main defense against outdoor pests setting up camp inside your home. Although they can chew, they are much happier just fitting through an existing gap. Your pest control expert can block the gaps with steel wool and other barriers that keep rodents from making their way inside.

Types of Rodents Found in Charlotte, North Carolina

Whether you live near the heart of the city or around the woodsy outskirts, rodents are always going to be a problem while living in Charlotte, North Carolina. This area definitely has its fair share of rodents, including:

• • Mice
• • Rats
• • Squirrels
• • Chipmunks
• • Voles

Given the chance, these rodents would happily move into your home and start wrecking the place. Thankfully, you can prevent that from happening.

How to Prevent Rodents from Entering Your Home

Unless you want to go through your house with a fine-toothed comb, it’s always better to bring in the professionals to keep rodents at bay. Using insights and keen eyes, we will make quick work of blocking all the entry points rodents might want to use. Once we complete that task, you can trust that we will also keep an eye out for signs of other pests as well. With our help, you’re sure to enjoy keeping your home pest free through the winter and beyond.