How and Why to Reduce Rodent Population
It may be more important than you realize to reduce rodent population on your property. Why is that? To begin with, rodents spread disease. “Hantaviruses can infect and cause serious disease in people worldwide. People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva.” — WWW.CDC.GOV — Hantavirus. Among other diseases, rodents also carry and spread Salmonella bacteria. So, how do you reduce your chances of rodents spreading disease in your yard and home?
How to Reduce Rodent Population
Start by focusing on removing food sources, eliminating shelter, and sealing entry points. Too often, property owners make it inviting for rodents by offering a steady food source, a safe sanctuary, and easy routes in and out.
Food Sources
Regularly pick up fallen fruit and nuts, including acorns. Store birdseed, pet food, and other food items in airtight containers. Secure trash bins with tight-fitting lids to prevent rodents from accessing food. Food spills from your grill can also be a source of food for rodents, so clean it after every use.
Shelter
Keep your yard tidy by mowing the grass and trimming bushes to reduce hiding places. Eliminate piles of leaves, wood, and other debris that rodents can use for shelter. If you have a compost pile, keep it away from your house and outbuildings and stack firewood off the ground, away from your house.
Entry Points
Inspect your house and outbuildings, looking for cracks, holes, or gaps in the foundation, walls, and windows. When you find them, use caulk, wire mesh, or building materials to seal them. Be sure that vents, such as dryer vents and chimneys, have screens to prevent rodents from entering. Consider installing fences, wire mesh, or netting around your garden to discourage rodents from entering.
“Mice cause damage to structures through gnawing and nest-building. In livestock confinement facilities and similar structures, they quickly can cause extensive damage to insulation inside walls and attics. Such damage also occurs in homes, apartments, and commercial buildings.
Mice often damage large electrical appliances by chewing wiring and insulation, resulting in short circuits, fire hazards, and other costly malfunctions.” — Purdue Extension
A Rodent Control Program
Here at Berger Hargis, we offer a rodent guard program to make your yard safer for kids and pets by reducing the rodent population. Our licensed technicians inspect and identify rodent routes and habitats in your yard. We use strategically placed bait stations to attract and eliminate rodents. The bait we use controls rats, mice, voles, and more. We offer property visits after the initial installation to reinspect and refill bait.
If you have a severe rodent problem, consider contacting a professional pest control service such as Berger Hargis before they spread disease or damage your home and foundation.
How Can We Help You?
Berger Hargis has a company philosophy of providing personal excellence for all our services. Our growth and success have been due entirely to our commitment to honest, excellent customer service. The company is built on the referral business we have received due to this philosophy.
If we can answer any questions about your garden or landscaping, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
About the Author
Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends, he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management.
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Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash
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