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Most pests, especially rodents, cannot tolerate the cold. They then tend to take refuge in our homes in winter. There they find shelter, food, water and warmth. Cohabitation with these animals, however, proves dangerous for our health. It also harms our quality of life. In addition, the material damage generated can be significant. We must therefore think about taking rodent prevention measures before the cold weather arrives.
How do rodents behave in winter?
Rodents such as rats and mice do not hibernate in winter. They remain active. However, they prefer to continue their activities in our homes during this period. Indeed, their lives are threatened outside. They have difficulty finding food. Additionally, the intense cold is uncomfortable.
Inside, they can build warm nests. They often settle in dark and quiet places. Also, they easily find food. For example, they feed on the remains of food that we leave lying around. They also search our garbage, and even our groceries. As they are omnivores, they will nibble on almost everything!
What are the risks associated with a rodent infestation?
Material damage
Property damage represents a notable risk of a rodent invasion. The structure of their jaw allows them to gnaw a lot of objects and food.
Here are some elements of the house that rodents particularly appreciate:
- Cables: the risks of short circuit or fire are high when they are stripped. Especially if they come into contact with water. You must therefore regularly check the wiring in your house in winter to avoid any incidents.
- Wood: rats nibble on wood to maintain good teeth. They also gnaw wooden structures such as doors, beams or even plinths to create a passage.
- Piping: rodents also like PVC pipes. Their presence will therefore endanger the evacuation ducts.
- The car: the vehicle is one of the rodents' favorite places. They can find many objects to gnaw there. In addition, they are protected from the cold. The cost of repairing damage caused by their presence can be very high.
Diseases
Rodents are formidable vectors of disease which it is essential to be wary of. In fact, they can transmit around forty diseases. Among them, we cite the plague, salmonellosis and even typhus. Furthermore, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome caused by these pests killed 36% of its victims.
Rodents leave saliva, droppings and hair when they move. Bacteria and viruses carrying diseases are transmitted to humans through them. Thus, an object or product can be infected without having been bitten by the animal. This is why an invasion represents a risk for human health.
How to prevent a winter rodent infestation?
Manage waste
Rodents are attracted to trash. Leaving a quantity within their reach, no matter how small, encourages them to invite themselves into our home. There they find a source of food essential to their survival. You must therefore manage your waste carefully to avoid a rat/mouse infestation.
We show you how to do it:
- Install garbage bins at a height of 30 cm from the ground;
- Store garbage in a container with a lid;
- Collect waste regularly;
- Maintain garbage bins regularly;
- Avoid leaving your waste lying around, whether indoors or outdoors.
Fill holes and cracks
Rodents are smart. They always find a way to infiltrate our home even if the doors and windows are tightly closed. They pass through holes, cracks and gaps. Also, they can pass through pipe systems and gutters. Here are the measures to take to avoid an infestation:
- Inspect all of the walls to identify any holes that need to be filled;
- Seal the cracks;
- Install screens over gutter and pipe openings. However, be sure to leave openings so that infiltrated rodents can escape. However, install a multiple-catch mouse trap there. This is a safe solution if you have children and/or pets.
Invest in a rodent trap
Investing in a rodent trap is a quick solution to preventing a rat/mouse infestation. You can use it both indoors and outdoors. Take the Catchmaster 612MC as an example. Its ability to catch several mice at once represents the greatest advantage of this solution. You can therefore install it in narrow and/or dusty areas. This makes it possible to catch animals located in difficult to access places without killing them.
On the other hand, it is preferable to use rat poison type traps as little as possible if you want to find the corpses.
Certainly, they eliminate rodents effectively, but they have a notable drawback. The animal will die in its hiding place, which will make access to the corpse a little difficult. Instead, head towards a bait station. The appeal of this model lies in its realistic appearance and easy maintenance. Simply open it to remove the trapped animal before throwing it away.
Conclusion
Do you want to prevent winter rodent infestations? Start by adopting good habits, particularly when it comes to managing your waste. Also, repair any holes and cracks through which they can enter. Finally, invest in rodent traps now! At L'Exterminateur en Ligne, you will find effective products at competitive prices. We invite you to consult our website to discover our catalog. You will also find explanatory videos for each solution we offer. Finally, we remind you that we are always at your disposal if you ever have any questions!
It can be effective to contact a professional exterminator such as Cimex Solution but in many situations, you can save costs and do it yourself thanks to our products.