The extreme weather that Texas residents are experiencing this summer has created a shortage of available food and water sources causing rodents to become more aggressive in their search for nutrients. Rodents, especially house mice will enter small spaces to gain access to homes to seek out their next meal. Common points of entry include wall voids, plumbing, utility wires and ductwork. Some species of mice found in Texas can measure as little as four inches and squeeze into tiny crevices one-quarter of their size. The experts at A-Tex Pest Management caution Austin residents to never underestimate the impact that these furry little creatures can have on their homes and businesses.
House Mouse Diseases Spread to Humans
Mice are not only capable of spoiling food with their droppings and urine, they can also transmit dangerous illness such as salmonella and other forms of food poisoning by contaminating countertops and other areas used for preparing food. Rodents will also chew through packaging to gain access to food and will not discriminate between pet and human food. Droppings, gnawing and tracks indicate areas where rodents are especially active. Nests made from shredded paper or other material can typically be found in dark, secluded locations within your home. Mice in particular have a strong odor that many people describe as musky. Mice are occasionally seen during the daylight hours but are the most active at night.
Rodent Physical Damage to Home & Property
In addition to spreading illness and spoiling food, rodents can also threaten the integrity of the structure of your home by destroying insulation and chewing through wiring. According to fire investigators, rodents are responsible for as many as 25% of the house fires occurring in the United States each year. One of the best ways to keep rodents out of your home is with good hygiene practices. Keep your kitchen counters clean and clutter-free and make sure you collect and remove all traces of trash. Check food storage containers and garbage cans to ensure that the lids and covers fit securely. One of the most important steps to keeping your home free of rodents including mice, rats and squirrels is to prevent them from gaining access into your home or business. Rodents along with many other pests are opportunistic and will devote time looking for places to breach and enter your home in search of shelter, food and water.
House Mouse, Rat & Rodent Prevention
The experienced professionals at A-Tex Pest Management recommend exclusion as one of the best means of keeping your home free of rodents and nuisance wildlife. We offer comprehensive rodent control programs which include trapping, removal, exclusion and repair for our residential and commercial customers in Austin, Texas and the surrounding areas. Some of the things that you can do to prepare your home and keep rodents out this fall include:
• Storing firewood at least 20 feet from your home and at least five feet off of the ground
• Trim shrubs, bushes and trees close to the exterior of your home, mow the grass on a regular basis, rake and remove leaves to eliminate garden debris close to your property.
• Check dryer vent screens, utility and chimney vents for tears and other openings that rodents and wildlife can utilize to gain access.
Mice, Rat & Rodent Pest Inspections, Exclusion, Trapping & Removal in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
For more information on rodent and wildlife exclusion, contact the experts at A-Tex Pest Management today and speak to a friendly customer service professional regarding all of your pest control and nuisance pest needs in Greater Austin, Texas.