Pest of the Month: Don't Let Rodents Scurry Into Your Home This Winter!

Mickey Mouse, Jerry of famous duo Tom & Jerry, and Chuck E. Cheese.

Rodents, particularly mice, have been revered in cartoon-form for decades, bringing smiles to children as they dance across screens, spar with cats and present golden tokens.

However, the ratio of cuteness sharply declines when rodents lose their animated shape and scurry across your kitchen floor while you’re brewing your morning cup of coffee.

With impending cooler temperatures, homeowners should be wary of the aforementioned scenario being reenacted in their home.

According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of PPMA, nearly one third of Americans have had a problem with rodents at one time or another. And, of those respondents, almost half said that the problem occurred in the fall and winter months.

This information underscores the importance of early rodent prevention as we head into the depth of fall and early winter. Already, Wil-Kil Pest Control is receiving a plethora of residential calls from homeowners in need of rodent inspections.

Homeowners can keep rodents out of their home with the following tips:

· Seal cracks. A standard pest prevention tip, but important nonetheless. Using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both to cover holes outside of the home, particularly where utilities and pipes enter is extremely important as pests of all kinds use these openings as easy access to a home.

· Replace loose mortar and weather stripping. Another entry-preventing method, this tactic is especially important near basement foundation and windows.

· Screen vents and chimney openings. As rodents are larger than your average pest, homeowners will want to block openings that a mouse or rat would easily scurry through.

· Store food and garbage in sealed containers. Food should be kept in airtight containers to prevent contamination and garbage should be disposed of regularly.

· Inspect packages before bringing into the home. Boxes, grocery bags and decoration bins can all be invaded by rodents during the off-season. Instead of unknowingly carrying rodents into their homes, residents should inspect these items before they enter the household.

In addition to being terrifying to encounter, rodents can contaminate food sources and transmit diseases such as salmonella and the potentially fatal Hantavirus. Homeowners should be on the lookout for signs of infestation like rodent feces or sounds of scurrying in the walls. If signs are found, homeowners should contact a licensed pest professional to inspect the home.

Are there other rodent prevention tips we missed? Let us know with a comment below!

Shane McCoy is an Associate Certified Entomologist with 17 years of experience in Pest Management and is the Director of Quality and Technical Training for Wil-Kil Pest Control servicing the Upper Midwest. To learn more about Wil-Kil, visithttp://www.wil-kil.com/ or contact your local office at 800-236-8735. Follow Wil-Kil onFacebook and Twitter (@WilKilPest).