The holidays are a time for family, friends, and celebration. But it can also be a time when rodents are more likely to invade your home. Rodents are attracted to the warmth and food that are plentiful during the holidays. They can also enter your home through small openings you may not even be aware of.
If you’re worried about rodents ruining your holidays, there are a few things you can do to prevent them from entering your home. For more on how to repel rodents, read on. We have lots of tips about how to get rid of rodents, how to keep rodents out of your house, and even how to prevent rodents from entering your house in the first place.
How Rodents Can Ruin Your Holidays
Rodents are more than just unwelcome guests—they can cause significant damage and health risks that disrupt your holiday plans. Rodents can spread diseases and contaminate food. They can also cause damage to your home by chewing on wires and insulation. In addition to being a health hazard, rodents can also be a nuisance. From the scurrying noises at night to leaving droppings around your home, rodents can ruin your holiday plans.
Damage to Decorations and Gifts: Rodents are notorious chewers, and your carefully stored holiday decorations, lights, and wrapped gifts are prime targets. They have been known to gnaw through wires, and ruin sentimental ornaments and expensive presents.
Food Contamination: Holiday meals and treats are a big part of the season, but rodents can spoil the fun by contaminating food with their droppings, urine, or fur. This not only wastes food but also poses a serious health risk to your family and guests.
Unpleasant Odors and Noises: Rodents hiding in your walls or attic can bring an unpleasant musky smell to your home. Their scurrying and scratching noises can interrupt the peace, making it hard to enjoy quiet evenings by the fire.
Health Hazards: Rodents carry diseases like salmonella, hantavirus, and leptospirosis, which can spread to humans through direct contact or contaminated surfaces. Hosting holiday gatherings in a rodent-infested home puts your loved ones at risk.
Costly Repairs: Beyond ruining decorations and food, rodents can cause structural damage to your home by chewing through wood, insulation, and even plumbing. These issues can lead to expensive repairs during a season when budgets are already stretched.
To keep the holidays merry and rodent-free, take preventive measures like sealing entry points, properly storing food and decorations, and maintaining cleanliness. If you suspect an infestation, contact a pest control professional promptly to protect your home and holiday cheer.
How Do Rodents Get Inside Your Home
Rodents are resourceful and determined to find a way into your home to seek warmth and shelter during the holiday season. Rodents can enter your home through small cracks in walls, foundations, or around windows and doors. Mice, in particular, can squeeze through openings as small as a dime.
Another way rodents can easily access your home is through open vents, chimneys, or attics. Improperly sealed garages and basements are also common areas where rodents will sneak in. Some rodents, like rats will navigate the sewer and drainage system to enter your home.
Signs Of Rodent Infestation During The Holiday Season
Detecting a rodent infestation early can help prevent serious damage to your property and reduce health risks. To keep the holidays merry and rodent-free, take preventive measures and keep your environment clean. If you notice any of these signs, take immediate action to address the rodent infestation before it gets worse.
Droppings: You can often find rodent droppings near food sources, along with baseboards or unused spaces. You may even notice smudge marks or footprints along the floors or dusty surfaces.
Foul Odors: Rodents hiding in your home will leave an unpleasant musky smell. This will indicate that a rodent infestation is close by.
Unusual Noises: Hearing scratching or scurrying sounds within the walls, ceilings, or under floorboards can interrupt the peace, especially making it hard to enjoy your sleep.
Gnaw Marks: Rodents constantly chew to keep their teeth sharp. They will gnaw through wires, and wooden structures, ruin sentimental ornaments, or chew through the packing of food.
Diseases Spread By Rodents
Rodents are known carriers of various diseases, posing significant health risks to humans. Preventing rodent infestation is essential for protecting both personal health and the safety of your environment. Some of the diseases they carry include:
- Hantavirus: This fatal respiratory disease is transmitted through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
- Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection that can cause symptoms like fever, headache, and muscle aches, often contracted through water or soil contaminated with rodent waste,
- Salmonellosis: This is a foodborne illness that leads to diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, typically caused by consuming food or water contaminated by rodents.
- Rat-bite fever: Another bacterial infection is rat-bite fever, which results from a rodent bite or scratch and causes fever, chills, and muscle aches.
How To Get Rid Of Rodents At Home
If you already have rodents in your home, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them. Rodent removal is often as simple as 1-2-3. Once you identified the the rodent infestations, determine the most effective solution. There are a variety of traps that are available for rodent removal, including snap traps, glue traps, and live traps.
Baits are also effective for rodent removal but it’s important to use them with caution around pets and children since these baits result in killing the rodents. If you’re having trouble getting rid of rodents on your own, you may want to hire a professional pest control company.
How To Prevent Rodents From Entering Your Home
There are a few things you can do to prevent rodents from entering your home:
Seal up any cracks or holes in your home’s foundation, walls, and roof. Rodents can squeeze through very small openings, so it’s important to seal up any cracks or holes that you find.
Keep your food in airtight containers. Rodents are attracted to food, so it’s important to keep your food in airtight containers.
Clean up any spills or crumbs immediately. Rodents are also attracted to spills and crumbs, so it’s important to clean them up immediately.
Take out your trash regularly. Rodents are attracted to trash, so it’s important to take it out regularly.
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home. Rodents can nest in firewood, so it’s important to store it at least 20 feet away from your home.
Trim back any trees or shrubs that are touching your home. Rodents can use trees and shrubs to climb onto your home, so it’s important to trim them back.
Get Rodent Removal This Holiday Season From Pest G.O.A.T.S
Rodents can be a serious problem during the holidays, from spreading diseases, causing structural damage to your property, and contaminating food. If you’re worried about rodents ruining your holiday, contact Pest G.O.A.T.S today. We can help you protect your home or business from these unwanted pests.
Pest G.O.A.T.S by Willis Ext. is a family-owned company with over 30 years of experience. Our pest control company provides comprehensive rodent removal services in Cedar Hill and Dallas, Texas. We can help you get rid of rodents and prevent them from coming back.
We offer various wildlife removal services, including:
- Inspection: We will inspect your home to identify any potential entry points for rodents.
- Exclusion: Our wildlife exclusion services are humane methods that use barriers, screens, and other deterrents to keep wildlife from entering a home or building.
- Trapping: We will set traps to catch any rodents that are already in your home.
- Baiting: We will use baits to kill any rodents that are already in your home.
- Monitoring: We will monitor your home for signs of rodent activity.
Reach out today to learn all about our rodent control services. And have a happy holiday!