How to Prevent Mice and Rats

Outdoor Rodent Prevention

Before mice and rats infest the inside of your home, they will likely infest the outside. Many rodents, especially Norway rats and deer mice, burrow outdoors and find food where they can. If they are allowed to make their nests close to your home, the chances are much greater that they will eventually end up inside your home. Some things you can do to keep mice from entering your home include:

• Maintain your landscaping and keep your yard clean. Keep bushes and tree branches trimmed away from the walls and roof of your home. In addition, you can keep firewood raised off the ground at least 20 feet away from the walls of your home (rodents love to get into wood piles if they can).nEnsure that all garbage cans are closed and sealed and routinely emptied so rodents won’t try to get into them.
• Seal entry ways. Monitor the state of your home’s foundation and seal any cracks you find with steel wool or mesh and silicone caulk so rodents can’t dig or gnaw their way inside. Some mice can fit through holes the size of a pencil or even a dime. The last thing you want is a tiny crack or crevice in your foundation providing an entry point for rodents or other pests. Basements, garages, and crawl spaces are among the most common places to find rodent invaders, and sometimes, rodents can even find gaps between baseboards and the floor. If you mouse-proof your house and avoid them getting inside in the first place, this is the best way to prevent mice.

Indoor Rodent Prevention

If mice and rats find their way inside your home, they will begin methodically searching for food and places to build a nest. Here are some of the best ways to prevent them from making themselves at home.

• Store all food items in plastic or glass airtight containers: Keep your food refrigerated or on high pantry shelves so rodents can’t get into them. This includes pet food, as rodents will even eat that if given a chance. Rodents are also known to chew through cardboard and certain types of plastic to get at the food they want, so keep this in mind when choosing how to store food.
• Keep your home clear of clutter: Rodents will eat any food crumbs and waste they can find, so doing routine cleanups of your countertops, tables, floors, and other surfaces in your home is a great first step to keeping rodents (and many other pests) away. Since they will also use discarded paper, cardboard, cloth, and other materials for their nests, it’s also a good idea to keep recycling, trash, and storage or craft supplies well tucked-away so mice and rats don’t steal them.
• Keep food out of vehicles: During the winter months, rodents are known to also find shelter inside vehicles and engines, so make sure to keep the interior of your vehicle clean, and check your engine during cold weather to ensure they haven’t gotten inside.
• Keep plumbing and home structure in good repair: Rodents will take advantage of any home repair needs in order to find food and water or build nests. They’re also notorious for gnawing electrical wires, chewing through pipes, and tearing up insulation (roof rats in particular will do this since they tend to choose high-up places to build nests). So if you notice any potential problems, try to take care of repairs in a timely manner. Otherwise, rodent activity may make the issues worse.
• Don’t leave buildings or other structures vacant for long periods of time: The longer a property stays vacant, the more likely it is to attract rodents, as they won’t be disturbed and they can reproduce and hunt for food in safety. If you own or manage property, try to check in on it regularly to make sure it doesn’t become a haven for mice and rats.
• Strategically and carefully place snap traps or live traps. This can be effective as a preventative measure, but mice and rats are extremely clever. They can avoid these traps relatively easily, but they can sometimes be helpful.
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