A gray mouse

Get Rid Of Rodents Quickly

Rodents are a problem nobody wants in their home. As a local pest control company, we see lots of rodent problems. Especially during the colder Virginia months, mice and rats want to get in your home. Rodents can get into your home in several ways and can be difficult to get rid of them once they do without professional pest control services. Thankfully, there are ways to keep rodents out of your home if the problem hasn’t gotten too severe. Here are some tips on how to get rid of rodents in Falls Church, VA.

Most Common Types Of Rodents In Virginia

“Rodent” is a term that can refer to several animals, including squirrels, voles, and chipmunks. The most common type of rodents that Falls Church residents have problems with infesting their homes is mice and rats. They are small and can hide in tiny spaces. They are also quick, so they can be difficult to see or find where they ran. Mice and rats can also leave droppings all over your home, which besides being gross can be dangerous.

While rats and mice can both be destructive, rats are a bigger danger in your home. Rats are more difficult to get rid of and cause more damage. They are known to chew through wood, concrete, insulation, and will chew through wires, which can cause a fire in your home.

Rodents Can Carry Dangerous Diseases

It’s important to get rid of rodents as quickly as possible. Rodents in your Falls Church home can make your family sick. They can carry and transmit harmful diseases. Rat and mice feces can carry Salmonella, which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, and can be fatal in some cases. Hantavirus is a common disease carried by rats and mice that can affect your lungs. This disease is transmitted through rodent feces, urine, and saliva. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, and muscle aches.

Rodents Are Attracted To Your Falls Church, VA, Home

Mice and rats are forced to seek shelter as cold weather approaches. Your home is the perfect place for rodents to nest and spend the winter. Once inside your home, rodents may find it better to nest and burrow inside rather than outside, where they must find food, deal with predators, and have less hospitable conditions.

How To Get Rid Of Rodents and Keep Them Out Of Your Falls Church, VA Home:

  • Inspect your home for gaps or holes that could serve as entry points for rodents, and seal them up with caulk or steel wool.
  • Keep food stored in airtight containers and dispose of garbage, including cardboard boxes, regularly to avoid attracting rodents.
  • Set traps near where you’ve seen evidence of rodents. Peanut butter, cheese, or other food items they have eaten make excellent baits.
  • You can buy poison to get rid of mice and rats, but be careful about the products you buy, how you use and where you place them. Used improperly, pets and other non-target animals can be harmed.
  • If you are dealing with mice in your garage, sealing entry points may be enough to deter them. But if you have rats in the attic, you may need to be more aggressive with traps and baits to eliminate the issue.

A local pest control company such as My Pest Pros can help you get rid of rodents. We use EPA-approved and regulated products, and our expert rodent technicians have years of training and experience. When you need a Falls Church pest control company to get rid of rodents and other pests, call us.

Tips on How to Get Rid of Rodents

There are different ways to get rid of rodents depending on the situation and how they got into your home. Where you are seeing the rodent problem, the severity of the issue, whether you have children and pets, and how they are getting in are things to consider.

RatIdentify How the Rodents Are Entering Your Home

Many homeowners are shocked to see how easy it is for mice to get into your home. Mice can enter your home through a hole the size of a dime or pinky. Rats can get in through gaps the size of a quarter. It is important to seal any cracks to prevent them from squeezing their tiny bodies through these holes.

Caulk, steel wool, and concrete filler are helpful for sealing up rodent entry points. Seal small gaps where you see light coming through or if you can feel cold air.

Keep Food Stored in Airtight Containers

Rats and mice have a strong sense of smell and can easily chew through boxes, plastic containers, and as we said earlier, even concrete.

Rodents are attracted to food sources and like to nest near their food. Storing food in airtight containers is a great way to deter them. Make sure bags of pet food, bird seed, and grass seed are stored in containers. Mice and rats will find small holes in these pet food bags or chew through.

Small crumbs under the toaster, on the counter, or floor are meals for rodents. Make sure you clean thoroughly and inspect these areas to avoid making them attractive to rodents.

What Is The Best Bait To Attract Rodents?

One of the best ways to eliminate a rodent problem is to use the foods they like to get rid of them. For example, you can use foods they are getting into as baits. Set traps with the foods they are eating or foods located near where you are seeing rodent activity.

You can also use items such as cotton balls on traps to attract mice. Mice looking for nesting materials will find this attractive.

Using Poison to Get Rid of Rodents

Poison baits sold at retail stores can help to get rid of rodents. These products are formulated to be attractive to mice and rats, and also lethal to them. You should be very careful when using baits and follow the label directions. Baits can be dangerous to children, pets, and non-target animals. Baits should be used in secure stations and areas where it will not be disturbed by people or other animals.

Professional Pest Control Experts in Falls Church, VA

We often receive calls from homeowners who have tried to get rid of rodents on their own or do not want to mess with it themselves. If you need a Falls Church exterminator and rodent expert, My Pest Pros is a trusted local pest control company in Falls Church, VA.

My Pest Pros is a top-rated pest control company serving Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. We can help solve your rat or mouse problem as well as other pest control issues. Contact us today or call 703-665-4455 for a free estimate.