iskAs temperatures cool and outdoor food sources become scarce, rodents like mice and rats begin searching for warm shelter in our homes and businesses. Consequently, rodent activity increases this time of year. At Monticello Pest Solutions, we’re here to explain why this happens, why rodents pose a serious threat, and how we can help keep them out this season. Ultimately, we’re here to serve as your partners for effective rodent control and treatment.
Why Rodents Are Common in Cooler Months
Rodents are driven indoors by seasonal changes. As temperatures drop, they look for the warmth and safety of buildings to nest and find food. Additionally, even the smallest gap in a building’s exterior—sometimes as small as a dime—can serve as an entry point. Once inside, rodents reproduce quickly. A single mouse can produce up to 60 offspring in a year, which means a small problem can turn into a large infestation fast. For this reason, rodent control is critical, and working to keep them out is the best line of defense.
Why Rodents Are a Threat to Property & Health
Rodents are not only a nuisance, but they can cause significant damage, contaminate food, and spread disease. Therefore, it’s essential to take steps to keep them from entering in the first place and have a year-round rodent control program.
Risks Presented by Rodents
- Property Damage: Mice and rats chew constantly to keep their teeth short. As a result, they can damage insulation, walls, furniture, and even electrical wiring, which can lead to costly repairs and potential fire hazards. Rodents will gnaw through wood, drywall, plastic pipes, and aluminum siding to create nests or expand their entry points. Moreover, when they chew on electrical wiring, they strip away protective insulation, which can cause short circuits, power outages, and even fires. In attics and crawl spaces, rodents shred insulation for nesting material, reducing your home or business’s energy efficiency and increasing heating and cooling costs.
- Health Risks: Rodents spread bacteria and disease through their droppings, urine, and saliva, contaminating surfaces and food sources. They are known carriers of serious illnesses including Hantavirus, Salmonella, Leptospirosis, and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV). These diseases can be transmitted directly through contact with rodent waste or indirectly by breathing in dust contaminated with droppings and urine. In fact, even dried droppings can become airborne when disturbed during cleaning, posing respiratory risks to anyone in the area.
- Secondary Pests: Rodents often carry fleas, ticks, and mites, introducing additional pests into your home or business. As rodents move, these parasites can drop off and infest carpets, bedding, furniture, and pet areas. Fleas can bite humans and pets, causing itchy welts and potentially transmitting diseases like murine typhus. Likewise, ticks carried by rodents may spread Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, while mites can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Food Contamination: In kitchens, pantries, and storage areas, rodents can contaminate food supplies, creating health concerns and waste. A single mouse can produce 50–75 droppings per day, and rodents urinate constantly as they travel, leaving invisible traces of bacteria on countertops, dishes, and food packaging. Furthermore, they’ll chew through cardboard, plastic bags, and thin containers to access grains, cereals, pet food, and other stored items. Even if food shows no visible signs of tampering, it may still be contaminated and unsafe to consume, forcing you to discard entire pantry supplies.
Signs You May Have a Rodent Problem
Rodents often hide in attics, basements, and walls, but they leave behind clear signs of their activity. Therefore, watch for:
- Droppings in cupboards, pantries, or along baseboards. Mouse droppings look like small, dark brown or black grains of rice, measuring about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long with pointed ends. Rat droppings look like dark, blunt-ended capsules, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, similar to a raisin. Additionally, fresh droppings are soft and moist, while older droppings become hard and crumbly.
- Scratching or scurrying noises in walls or ceilings, especially at night. Since rodents are nocturnal, you’re most likely to hear them after dark when your home is quiet. The sounds may include light scratching, scampering across surfaces, or squeaking. These noises often come from attics, between walls, or above ceilings where rodents travel along beams and pipes.
- Gnawed wires, furniture, or food packaging. Rodents must gnaw constantly to keep their ever-growing incisors from becoming too long. Consequently, you may notice chew marks on cardboard boxes, plastic containers, wood trim, and electrical wiring. Gnaw marks appear as small, rough-edged holes or scratches and are often accompanied by shavings or debris nearby.
- Greasy smudge marks along walls or baseboards. As rodents repeatedly travel the same paths, oils and dirt from their fur create dark, greasy streaks called “rub marks.” Typically these marks appear along walls, pipes, rafters, and other surfaces where rodents regularly run. Because rub marks are darker they are most visible on lighter-colored surfaces.
- A musty or musky odor in enclosed spaces. Rodent urine has a distinct, strong ammonia-like smell that becomes more noticeable as an infestation grows. In many cases, this odor may be particularly strong in enclosed areas like cabinets, closets, attics, or behind appliances where rodents nest or frequently travel.
How to Prevent Rodents Around Your Property
Being proactive is the best way to prevent infestations before they start. To help, here are some steps to help protect your home or business:
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect for cracks, gaps, and holes, especially around pipes and vents. Then, seal openings with steel wool and caulk.
- Eliminate Food Sources: Keep food in airtight containers, clean up crumbs promptly, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
- Reduce Clutter: Rodents nest in cluttered areas. Therefore, it’s essential to keep storage organized and off the floor.
- Maintain Your Property: Trim branches away from the roof, keep firewood away from the foundation, and remove outdoor debris.
- Fix Moisture Issues: Repair leaky pipes and ensure proper drainage, since rodents are drawn to water sources.
How Monticello Pest Solutions Can Help Prevent & Treat for Rodents
At Monticello Pest Solutions, we don’t just remove rodents. We focus on long-term prevention through comprehensive, proactive solutions using Integrated Pest Management. Thus, rodent control is most effective when homeowners and businesses are proactive.
Our process includes:
- Thorough Inspection: Identifying entry points, nesting areas, and the severity of the infestation.
- Targeted Treatment: Using safe and effective baiting, trapping, and exclusion methods to eliminate rodents.
- Sealing & Prevention: Closing off entry points and providing recommendations to keep rodents from returning.
- Long-Term Monitoring: We provide ongoing inspection and maintenance to ensure your property stays protected.
Ultimately, our goal is to deliver long-term protection through a proactive approach that closes off entry points, addresses activity quickly, and keeps your property protected from the outside in.
Rodent Control for Your Home and Business Year-Round
Rodents thrive anywhere they can find food and shelter. Because of this, our customized solutions are designed to fit your property needs and provide lasting protection. Contact us today at (434) 218-3331 or request a site visit online to schedule an inspection or treatment and keep your home or business rodent-free.
