Unfortunately, for most of us, the possibility of insects and rodents invading our home is not a reality until it’s too late. Even the cleanest of homes and businesses can find uninvited guests roaming the house. Or were they unknowingly invited in?
Let’s look at rodents, first. Although small in size, seeing a mouse scurrying across the floor can be unsettling. The thing to remember is that mice are only looking for food and water and in many cases, homeowners and business owners unwittingly leave these necessities out for them. In colder climates, the warmth of the building can also be an attraction to many small critters looking for a winter home.
Cheese, peanut butter or other food items may attract them to mousetraps, but there are some items many don’t see as being an attraction to mice. Bird seed and even grass seed can be an enticing morsel to a hungry mouse. Keeping them from these items can also be difficult as their teeth and claws can often find their way through many barriers. Think about it. Mice can chew their way through wood walls and even concrete so that plastic bucket of birdseed likely won’t keep them from burrowing into the seed for a feast.
Holes in walls as small as a pencil are often no match for these tiny creatures. No hole is too small for a mouse to squeeze through to reach the promise of a free meal. Patching these holes with wood filler or other insulating materials will only be seen as a challenge for most mice and it won’t take long for them to eat their way to the perceived food source.
Puddles of water from the garden hose or leaking basement can also be an attraction to mice as they will be looking for a drink following their meal. Remember, it’s often easier to keep the mice out of the house than it is to rid the house of mice once they find their way in.
Insects can also be disconcerting and in many cases, the landscaping of the home can be an open invitation to an insect invasion. Most businesses, especially those providing food services are in a constant battle with insects. Many have established a vegetation-free barrier around the building.
Allowing grass and other vegetation to grow right up to the building provides an unimpeded route for most insects to the structure. By keeping the growth of grass or ornamental growth away from the home or business can provide a natural barrier as many insects will take the proverbial path of least resistance. By eliminating that path, an invasion is less likely.
