Are You In Need Of A Rodent Deterrent?
If you are looking for a rodent deterrent, you may first find it interesting to understand what a rodent actually is. Traditionally, a species is considered a rodent based on its tooth structure. Because of their unique jaws and teeth, they spend their days gnawing at whatever they please.
Reasons To Get Rid Of Rodents
You probably need to get rid of a few pests already on hand if you are looking for a rodent deterrent. There are endless reasons that you need to get rid of rats and mice. In addition to the fact that they can pass on a multitude of diseases to your household pets if they are eaten, they are also hosts to a generous amount of tapeworms and blood-borne pathogens.
There has been a substantial amount of evidence that proves that rodents bring deer ticks (carriers of disease) as well as other blood-feeding arachnids and insects to your property.
Additionally, if you are looking for a rodent deterrent for species such as groundhogs or gophers, you probably already know that they do a significant amount of damage to your lawn. However, other than aesthetic and physical damages, these types of rodents really do not pose a threat to human or pet health.
Avoiding An Infestation
- Food – The most basic rodent deterrent is to always place potential sources of food out of reach. Anything that a rodent can get a hold of will become a part of its diet, especially in the winter. Always keep trash in a secured rodent-proof container.
- Clutter – Keep clutter off your porch and out of your yard. A large amount of unnecessary items provides rodents with potential places to breed and hide. You should also make sure that the grass is kept trimmed and that decorative lawn items are kept to a minimum.
- Seal – If you are looking for a rodent deterrent for the inside of your home, simply make sure that everything is sealed up. Keep in mind that an opening less than a half of an inch is large enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Check around the entire perimeter of your home, both inside and outside and use silicon sealant or caulking to eliminate these entrances.
- Rodent Bait – When necessary, you may need to use rodent bait to avoid an infestation from occurring from any rodents that managed to get through your barricades. Most baits are poison-filled small bags. They lure the rodent in with their attractive smell and then when they bite it, they are poisoned. These are very toxic to humans and pets. If you have children or animals, it is crucial that these are nowhere that are accessible to them. Keep in mind that pets have a way of getting under and into things. Choose your location placement very carefully.
- Pets – It is always recommended to feed your pets indoors. Any food left behind will invite rodents and they will have the opportunity to contaminate food and water bowls. If for some reason you absolutely have to feed your pet outside, only leave out enough food for one meal and take any leftovers away.
- Peppermint Oil – Believe it or not, this is a really effective rodent deterrent. Get yourself some peppermint oil from a health food store and place a few drops on some cotton balls. Place these cotton balls where you suspect the rodents are coming in or where you have seen them before.
- Fencing – If you need a rodent deterrent for your garden, consider installing a low fence around your plants. If you have the burrowing type of pest, dig yourself a trench around your plants. Then you line it with some mesh wire and cover back up with dirt. The rodents cannot dig through this to get to your garden.
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