Though rodents are small creatures, they can wreak havoc on your home and health. From chewing up your walls to spreading diseases, they are not critters you want crawling around your house. However, as winter sets in and temperatures drop, rodents are trying extra hard to get indoors – after all, they don’t like the cold either!
Sealing off rodent entry holes is the first step in preventing an infestation. While this task may seem simple enough, rodents are great at sneaking through even the tiniest of openings. Did you know that a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime? Rats only need a tiny bit more space – an opening the size of a quarter is usually large enough for them to fit through.
Knowing how to identify rodent entry holes is crucial in keeping these pests outside. To help you out, we’ve put together a small guide on how to find and seal rodent entry holes around your home.
What Do Rodent Entry Holes Look Like?
Rodent entry holes usually just look like small cracks or gaps. If the opening is heavily trafficked by pests, there will be signs of greasy-looking marks, gnawing, or fur. It’s important to be able to identify any openings to your home, as they could all be used as entryways by rodents and other pests. Here are some of the most common places that rodents enter homes:
- Cracks in foundations
- Holes or gaps around pipes
- Gaps near windows or doors
- Broken seals along garage doors
- Loose shingles on your roof
- Holes or gaps around gutters
- Broken window or door screens
How to Seal Rodent Entry Holes
There are a few different ways that you can go about sealing off rodent entry holes, and the method you use will largely depend on what kind of opening you are fixing. Here are a few ways you can seal off rodent entry holes:
- Caulk for small cracks and gaps: A bit of caulk usually does the trick for very small openings, such as cracks in your foundation or small gaps near windows.
- Sheet metal for larger holes: If you have a larger hole that can’t be covered by some caulk, you could either perform a full repair, or use some sheet metal and screws to block off the opening.
- Repairs around your home: Broken screens, loose shingles, gaps around your gutters, and other similar issues are usually best remedied by full-blown repairs. Makeshift coverings could be beneficial in the short term, but to keep pests out for good, we recommend investing the time and effort into formally repairing your home.
Professional Rodent Protection
Meticulously searching for rodent holes and carefully performing repairs are hugely important steps in keeping these pests out of your home. However, these tasks are tedious and can take a lot of time out of your day. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it all alone!
The rodent control experts at United Pest Solutions have years of experience in identifying and sealing off entry holes, and they are prepared to help you protect your home. If you are facing a rodent problem or are worried about entry holes around your house, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to get professional rodent control and protection!