Spring is finally here. The weather is warming, the flowers are emerging, and the butterflies and bees are making their pollen rounds. The Springtime in Alabama is lovely, scattered with rolling green and blossoms everywhere. So why are rodents coming to your house in Spring?
Well, when the weather warms, the rats and mice that already hide in your attic, basement, walls, crawlspace, and garage venture inside and outside of your Alabama home. And when the rains come, they may be driven out of their holes looking for a dry place to nest.
If you know you have a rodent issue, don’t think it will go away on its own. It will simply multiply until you call for professional help from your local Covenant Wildlife Removal.
The Rodents Seeking Refuge in Your Home
All rodents have consistently growing front incisors and no canine teeth. They are gnawing mammals and are the largest group of those mammals. However, homeowners only need to worry about three types that will want to enter the home. They are rats, mice, and squirrels. Raccoons may also seek the warmth and nesting supplies of your attic, but they are not considered rodents.
Mice in the Spring
The house mouse is a commensal critter. What does that mean? The Dictionary defines commensal as,
“An adjective meaning -eating together at the same table.
Ecology. (of an animal, plant, fungus, etc.) living with, on, or in another, without injury to either.
Sociology. (of a person or group) not competing while residing in or occupying the same area as another individual or group having independent or different values or customs.”
Basically, that means mice freeload off humans and have no problem with it. But where they are not having their needs met, they will not want to stay. So, homeowners should be vigilant in looking for them and keep food and water sources out of their grasp.
What’s more concerning, Spring begins the breeding season for mice. If a mouse is four to six weeks old, it is ready to begin and is well-rested from the winter months. And mice multiply very rapidly. After the first litter, she can mate again in 25 days. Phew, that means many baby mice!
Rats in the Spring
As rats awaken from their winter slumber, they begin the food search. That search starts outdoors, where the food supply is growing and abundant. And everyone knows from all the famous cartoons using rats how much rats love food. On the other hand, if rats are getting all they need from your home, why should they leave? Ensure that rat family you will not be providing their meals anymore and have your local wildlife experts come out to trap and remove them from your home.
Squirrels in the Spring
The squirrel population in your neighborhood can be a hoot to watch in the Spring. They too come out to search for food and friends. But squirrels are active in the day and are so acrobatic, and they can be fun to watch. However, in your attic, they will chew wiring, gnaw on drywall, and destroy insulation. The damage caused by squirrels can become costly as they are much bigger than mice and most rats. Larger animals do more extensive damage.
So, if you hear playing in the attic and it isn’t one of the kids, call for removal quickly!
The Dangers of a Rodent Infestation
Suppose, as you lay your head down for a well-deserved nighttime of sleep, you are satisfied and ready to drift off. But then, you hear scratching or chewing or some unusual noises coming from the ceiling. Not that again; you have rats in the attic.
So, what’s the big deal other than keeping you up at night? There are many reasons rodents are called pests and are dangerous if living in your home.
- Rodents increase your exposure to ticks, fleas, lice, mites, and other parasites they bring in from the outside. These can make your family and your pets sick.
- They will create holes in your walls, siding, and roofing just to gain entry to your home.
- Rats and squirrels cause a significant amount of damage to insulation and building materials in the attic.
- All rodents are known to chew wires to file their teeth and use them for nesting supplies. Damaged wires may lead to fires in your home.
- Holes in the home will let extra water into the house, creating the possibility for mold and mildew.
- In the attic, they will leave their excrement wherever they please. And if they tend to urinate in one area, it will eventually seep through the ceiling, leaving an odorous yellowish ring.
- When they get into the pantry, they will contaminate the foods they can tear open. And they will make a mess too.
- Diseases like hantavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, plague, and tularemia are all carried and spread to humans through their droppings, urine, and saliva.
Alabama Rodent Control for the Spring
You wake up in the morning to start the coffee, and a mouse runs across the floor of your newly mopped kitchen. How can it be” You just cleaned the floors and still, the mice find refuge in your kitchen? Not only will you feel you need to mop again, but you will surely need to call for the removal of the mice.
When you hire a professional wildlife removal company to help you get rid of the problem, you get more than an extra set of hands. As soon as you notice the influx of rodents in your yard, or see one in your home, contact your local experts. They will provide the following services.
- Inspectors will be on the job to assess the situation and see what methods will be necessary for rodent control.
- They have the right tools and products to use in order to rid your home of rodents for good.
- Wildlife removal techs will also locate any and all entry point possibilities and get them sealed up for you.
- Additionally, when the rodents are out, the technician will clean, sanitize, deodorize, and remediate any areas they nested.
Sound like the easy choice, right? But how can you prevent rodents from getting into your home?
What You Can Do to Prevent Rodents All Year
Spring is a critical time to rid your home of rodents and keep them out. Many homeowners who keep their house relatively clean wonder how they could have a mouse or rat issue. That is why Covenant Wildlife Removal has put together this list of ways you can help protect your home from unwanted critters all year long.
- When cleaning, be on the lookout for droppings indicating a mice or rat is in the house. If you see any, call for a professional right away and get to cleaning. You will want to remove all pheromones left by the critters.
- Check all doors and windows for broken seals and get them repaired or replaced. And remember, they can fit in the tiniest of places.
- Install screens on windows and doors that you open a lot.
- Seal all cracks in the exterior of the house and where the roof meets the walls.
- Place a fine-mesh screen overall vent openings, gutter downspouts, and the chimney of the house.
- Keep your family’s food supply safe by utilizing canisters with lids that seal shut in the pantry.
- Secure all garbage can lids and keep them inside the garage as much as possible. Tell rodents the all-night buffet is over.
- Check attics and basements often for evidence of activity whenever you go in.
- Keep the yard trimmed, and bushes cut back.
- Remove yard junk and debris, as they are excellent hiding places for vermin.
- Store firewood far away from the house and on a stand if you have one.
Covenant Wildlife Removes Rodents and Keeps Them Out For Good
In the Spring and all year long, our goal is to remove all rodents from your home, attic, walls, and crawlspaces. Covenant Wildlife Removal is trustworthy, reliable, and we stand behind our work by guaranteeing everything we do.
Contact our friendly staff for expert wildlife and rodent removal today!
