How to Eliminate & Prevent Rodent Infestations

No More Mr. Mice Guy

Rodents are like humans in a way. Just as we prefer a warm, cozy home this time of year, so do the mice and rats in the neighborhood. They are constantly searching for warmth, which is why they gravitate to our homes during the winter. They’re also resourceful, and if there is a gap or entry point into your home—even if it’s a very small one—rodents will always find a way. This is why it’s so important to seal up these entry points and let the rodents know that there is no vacancy in your home today, tomorrow or any day.

How Do I Know If Rodents Are the Culprits?

No one wants to hear they have a rodent infestation on their hand. But the sooner you know, the sooner you can eliminate these pests and prevent them from returning in the future.

There are certain telltale signs that will point to mice or rats as the culprits in your NJ home. The typical signs include:

• Mouse or rat droppings scattered in the corners of rooms, in silverware drawers and in pantries.

• “Hidden” food particles in dresser drawers and/or near clothes. As mentioned previously, rodents are resourceful and will hoard food when given the opportunity.

• Ripped toilet paper, paper towels, couches or rugs. This is a sign that the mice/rats are nesting in the house and are using these materials to build their nests.

• Small, round holes in the insulation (about the size of a quarter). The rodents will burrow into the insulation to stay warm and nest.

What Are the Main Causes of a Rodent Infestation?

As mentioned earlier, rodents enter our homes via any entry point they can find. Though they’re always on the hunt for a warm place to nest, there are certain things that will make a rodent infestation even more likely. These things include:

• Clutter in the home

• Food that has been left out (even crumbs and open boxes in pantries are enough to attract the mice/rats).

• Garbage

• Bird seed and/or grass seed that has spilled over or isn’t properly stored

The saying “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” couldn’t be more applicable to rodents. These pests are determined to find warmth during the winter, and they can enter your home through any of the following ways:

• Gaps in the corners of garage doors

• Open gas lines/electrical lines that run through the foundation

• The AC condenser lines or central air lines that run from the ground level to the attic. Your HVAC equipment creates a highway for the rodents to run up the pipes and enter the home.

• Improperly sealed dryer vents, windows and doors

• Tiny holes in rooflines, chimney areas and soffits (the finishing material that covers the underside of the roof overhang). Rodents might not be on the same level as Spider-Man, but they do have the ability to scale a house whether it’s made out of brick, rock, veneer stone, stucco, etc.

How We Remove the Rodents & Prevent Them From Returning

As is the case with any pest infestation, the first step is rectifying the immediate issue. Here’s how our rodent treatment process works:

1. Locate the exterior entry points to understand how the rodents are getting into your home.

2. Search for evidence of where the rodents are living/feeding/nesting.

3. Seal off all exterior entry points using the proper material. We may use a number of materials such as caulk, steel wool, copper mesh, chicken wire with less than a ⅛-inch mesh size and more. Ultimately, the materials we use will depend on where the entry point(s) are located, how big they are, etc.

4. Set up bait stations on the exterior and interior of the home and monitor the stations on a monthly basis. Once we’ve sealed off the entry points, we’ll use the stations to attract and eliminate the rodents that are already in your home whether they’re in the insulation, the attic, etc.

Once the infestation has been resolved, we provide ongoing preventive treatment to ensure your home stays rodent-free. We will re-bait the stations as-needed around the exterior of the home. Though we typically do this on a monthly basis, we can customize our services according to your needs. Please note that preventive treatment applies to exterior bait stations only. Once the initial infestation is treated, we don’t want to attract new rodents indoors. This is why we will remove the interior stations and replenish the exterior stations for ongoing preventive treatment.

It’s also important to note that while rodent infestations typically crop up during the winter, preventive measures should be taken throughout the entire year to avoid any major infestations. Though mice are notorious for seeking warmth and becoming a real pest during the winter, they can try to become an unwanted guest any time of year. Year-round preventive treatment is your best bet for keeping the rodents out and avoiding a major infestation come winter.

Tips for Preventing Future Infestations

In addition to receiving ongoing preventive treatment from a licensed NJ pest control company, there are a number of ways you can prevent rodent infestations in your home, such as:

• Minimizing clutter in your home

• Thoroughly cleaning after meals to ensure no crumbs are left behind

• Returning food to the refrigerator or pantry instead of letting it sit out (including pet food and water)

• Storing all animal food and bird seed/grass seed in plastic containers that seal/close

• Routinely walking around the perimeter of your home and checking for entry points; filling/blocking the entry points to prevent rodents from making their way inside

No Compro-Mice—Keep the Rodents Out With Bustabug!

Don’t allow your cozy home to be disrupted by the squeaks and pitter-patters of unwelcome rodents. Whether you’re dealing with a rodent infestation now or you have in the past, BustaBug is here to step in and ensure that the only mouse in your home is Mickey Mouse!

To schedule a free consultation for your NJ home or business, contact us online or call BustaBug Pest Control at 973-919-1279 today.