What Season Are Rodents Most Prevalent?

Rodents can be pesky all year long. They tend to like dark, warm spaces and they are highly attracted to food and waste. However, rodents are more likely to invade your home during the winter season than they are during any other month of the year. Keep reading to find out why. 

Rodents Look for Shelter When It Gets Cold 

Rodents love warm weather. They remain outside and are able to live off of food and waste debris. However, once the weather reaches a low temperature and gets excruciating cold, rodents will begin seeking shelter. They cannot survive in freezing temperatures, and that’s why they will try to invade your home as soon as they notice a change in weather. Once it is late fall or early winter, you may notice a rodent problem arise in your home or commercial space. 

Rodents Look for Food Sources in the Winter 

During the winter, rodents do not have a food source outside. They will begin to sneak into your home because, thanks to their high senses, they can smell the food you have indoors. During the spring and summer seasons, they may live off of trash and food debris they find outdoors, but this is no longer the case once the winter comes. To minimize this issue, make sure you clean up thoroughly after you eat. Even the smallest crumbs can attract pests – including rodents. 

How to Prevent Rodent Infestations

You may not have a rodent problem right now, but that does not mean that you can’t have a rodent infestation in the future. Pest control plays an important role in not only getting rid of pests in your home, but also in preventing pests from getting back into your home in the future. 

Clean Up Food Sources 

Rodents come into our homes for shelter and food. All they need is a few crumbs of food on a floor or counter to give them enough incentive to stay. One of the best ways that you can keep rodents out of your house is by cleaning up and getting rid of their food sources. 

Make sure that you clean your kitchen counters and floors after every meal. Wipe down your counters and floors with a cleaning solution and make sure that you sweep up and throw away any crumbs that are left over. 

Wipe Up Water

Another one of the main reasons rodents invade and stay in your home is because they are looking for a source of water. Make sure that you wipe up any water on your floors or counters. Check your house for leaky pipes around your home and make sure to fix them immediately. 

Seal Holes around Your Home

Rodents normally don’t sneak into your house because you left the front door open. They find the cracks, holes and crevices on the outside of your house so they can come in undetected. 

Sealing as many holes or gaps around your house as you can is one of the most effective ways to keep pests from getting into your home. Be sure to look for gaps and holes in these areas: 

• Closets.
• Pantries. 
• Behind your refrigerator. 
• Around your stove. 
• Around piping in your house. 
• In your attic and crawl spaces. 
• In your basement. 

You also need to look for and seal holes and gaps outside of your home in the following areas: 

• Your roof. 
• Around your doors. 
• Around your windows. 
• Under your doors. 
• Near your attic or crawlspace vents. 

You can use steel wool or caulk to seal up the holes inside and outside of your home.

How to Handle a Rodent Infestation

A rodent infestation needs to get taken care of right away. Rodents pose a health risk to your family. If you think that you have a pest problem and are in Alvin, Houston, Galveston, or the surrounding area, contact our pest control experts at Alvin Pest Control today.