Unwanted Guests: Pests
- Dale Schlegel
- Jan 4, 2022
- 2 min read
Fall has passed. We have moved along to winter. Some people associate winter with dead trees and bone-chilling cold. Others focus on the beauty of the snow and the crispness of the air. When the winter months hit and the nights get cold, there are a few things that every property owner or renter should worry about. For me, 2 of those things are frozen pipes and unwanted guests. We already covered frozen pipes in another blog and video, so we will focus on the latter in this post.
A warm home is inviting to pests like mice, squirrels insects and even snakes. It may seem impossible to stop mice from entering your home. However, there are a few things that you can do to help secure your home and hopefully prevent these pests from entering your living space.
These tips will not turn your property into Fort Knox, but they will help make your home less appealing to mice and other invasive pests.
Store your food in airtight containers: Storing your food properly will not only help keep the food fresh, but it will also make it difficult for rodents to access the food. Without food, they will seek refuge elsewhere- so point them to your neighbors house (only kidding...but that may be where they are headed next!)
Seal cracks and holes: Your home is full of holes, cracks and crevices. Remember, a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Closing some of the openings in your home can help deter unwanted guests. Install weather stripping around doors and windows to help close the gaps around the hinges and thresholds. Use steel wool and/or spray foam to fill gaps where pipes and wires enter or exit the home. Bonus: Sealing openings will help with drafts in your home as well.
Declutter and Organize: Rodents hide in clutter for warmth and security. Organizing storage areas has many advantages, one of which is cutting down on rodent hiding spots. Keep boxes off of the floor wherever possible. This will make the boxes harder to reach for mice and other invaders (Bonus: this will also help avoid water damage to the belongings in the boxes.)
If you hear scratching in your walls or see droppings, it is time to call a professional! You can contact us to connect with our trusted local network of pest control professionals.
Author: Dale M. Schlegel, Jr. - Principal at Tailored Insurance Solutions, LLC
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