Prevention Tips

Prevention Tips for General Pests

Preventative Pest Measures:

  • Clean up food spills
  • Vacuum thoroughly
  • Ant-proof containers
  • Empty trash frequently
  • Trim shrubs
  • Clean gutters

Where to Look for Rodents:

  • Under dog houses
  • Near bird feeders
  • Garbage cans, sheds and recycling material
  • Compost piles
  • Vegetable gardens
  • Debris buildup
  • Wood piles stored directly on the ground
  • High grass and weeds
  • Near or under landscaping timbers
  • Attics, Cellars, Crawlspaces
  • Under sinks, in pantry cabinets and closets

A Few Facts About Rodents:

  • Rats can enter a structure by swimming up pipes into the toilet bowl. They have been known to tread water for up to three days.
  • A rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime.
  • Rodents can enter through utility cable holes and fuel tank line openings, doorframes (that have gaps), cellar windows and floor drains if these are not properly sealed.
  • Rodents are capable of jumping 12 to 18 feet.
  • Rodents can walk across telephone wires.
  • Rodents have a natural inclination to gnaw. Electrical wiring is similar to twigs used to create a nesting environment. Rodents are believed to be the cause of up to 25% of fires of unknown origin.
  • Rats can gnaw through galvanized metal, iron, and concrete.
  • A pair of rodents can produce up to 70 offspring in one year. Rodents are ready to breed when they are two or three months old. Females are in heat every four days and can breed year round.