How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home

Why do Mice & Rats Enter Homes?

Rodents enter homes primarily in search of food, water, and shelter. Human homes provide an ideal environment, offering easy access to food sources and protection from predators and harsh weather. Once inside, rats and mice can quickly reproduce, causing bigger infestations.

Food and garbage are most likely to attract rodents. Rodents have a keen sense of smell and food and garbage tend to be very pungent. This combination means that food and garbage can attract rodents from far away.

Common Entry Points

Rats and especially mice can squeeze through tiny openings, making it easy for them to enter homes. Common entry points include gaps in walls, cracks in foundations, spaces around pipes, and under doors. They can also chew through materials like wood and plastic to create new entryways.

Seasonal Changes and Rodent Behavior

Rodents are more likely to seek shelter indoors during colder months. As temperatures drop, they look for warm areas to nest and breed, making homes particularly vulnerable during fall and winter.

Signs of a Rodent Infestation

Rodents can cause significant damage to homes and carry harmful diseases. Identifying the early signs of infestation is key to preventing a more serious problem. Not sure if you’re dealing with rats or mice? Read our useful rodent identification guides.

What to look for indoors

Common signs include droppings, which are often found near food sources, along baseboards, or in hidden areas. You may also hear scurrying or scratching sounds, especially at night. Gnaw marks on wood, wires, or food packaging are another indicator. Rodent nests, made of shredded paper or fabric, may also be found in secluded areas.

Outdoor rodent signs

Outside, look for burrows near the foundation of your home, under decks, or along fences. Greasy marks or tracks along walls, and gnawed vegetation or garbage suggest rodents may be present.

Preventing Rodents from Entering Your Home

Rodent exclusion is the technical term for repairing and sealing up your home so rodents can’t get inside. It may sound easy, but it takes a mouse a hole about the size of a nickel (¼” inch diameter) to squeeze into your house. It takes a keen eye to know what to look for, and tiny cracks often get overlooked.

Sealing Up Entry Points

Not only is rodent exclusion faster and cheaper than treating an infestation, it’s also more environmentally responsible. When done right, rodent exclusion is also 100% effective – when there’s no way for them to get inside, an infestation is physically impossible.

To prevent rodents from entering your home, seal all potential entry points. Inspect for cracks or holes in walls, foundations, and around pipes. Use steel wool to block small holes, as rodents can’t chew through it. For larger gaps, apply caulk or weatherproofing materials and ensure that doors and windows are tightly sealed. Regularly check and maintain these areas to prevent new access points from forming.

Proper Food Storage

Rodents are attracted to both human and pet food and can easily gnaw through cardboard and paper packaging.  It’s therefore important to store food in airtight plastic containers so as not to attract unwelcome visitors.

It’s not only your food that might attract rodents. Rats and mice can eat all sorts of items, from fruit and seeds to trash and meat. If you leave any of that out in the open, it’s like a buffet for rodents. Make sure you quickly dispose of trash in lidded bins and store leftovers in airtight containers.

Cleaning Up Potential Nesting Areas

To keep rats or mice out of your home or business, try following these tips:

• Clean up areas where they might build nests, including attics and basements: Remove clutter such as cardboard, old newspapers, and fabric that rodents could use for nesting material. 
• Clear away yard debris, including leaves and wood piles, as these can also attract rodents. 
• Fix any plumbing leaks and eliminate excess moisture so rodents can’t hydrate.

For more prevention tips, see our handy rodent prevention guides.

Effective Rodent Repellent Solutions

Rodent repellents can have a minor effect on your rodent prevention initiatives. For example, if a rodent is scouting for food and is trying to decide where to look next, a repellent might convince the rodent to go elsewhere. However, if you have an active infestation with many rodents, repellent isn’t likely to have a major effect. If rodents have found food, shelter, and water on your property, they’re unlikely to give that up just because of a little repellent.

That’s not to say that rodent repellents don’t have their place. If you have an exclusion plan based on the techniques listed above, rodent repellent can certainly help bolster it. However, we recommend starting with exclusion techniques by themselves and adding in repellent once you’ve established how they work.

Natural vs. Chemical Repellents

To keep rodents away, consider using a combination of natural and commercial repellents. Peppermint oil, a natural deterrent, can be placed near entry points, as rodents dislike the strong scent. Ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sound waves that can drive rodents away. Commercial sprays and granules are also available for both indoor and outdoor use. It’s important to maintain cleanliness and seal entry points to complement these repellents and ensure long-term effectiveness.

Need Help with Rodent Control in Your Georgia Home?

Whether you live or work in Georgia, rodents are the last thing you want to find scurrying about. If you’ve tried DIY methods but are still struggling with rats or mice, it may be time to reach out to a professional rodent pest control company. That’s where Active Pest Control can help. With over 40 years of experience serving Georgia, our highly trained team knows how to pinpoint and treat the root cause of your infestation. We’ll help you get rid of rodents as quickly as possible. Active Pest Control deals with all types of rodents in Georgia. To learn more or get started, give us a call today.

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