Keeping Pests Out

Pete Jameson is a pest control technician in Cheshire, and with the cold weather, he said business has been booming. "Normally Christmas is kind of slow, but with this cold weather, the phone won't stop ringing. "Everything from mice and squirrels to rats and bats are seeking shelter in homes across the county."

There are some things you can do to keep the critters out, such as reinforcing vents. Squirrels and even rats climb from tree branches onto the roof and easily get into your home through vents.

Also reinforce the holes made by construction, such as installation of outdoor lighting and air conditioners. "The A/C will always run into the home and leave a gap," Jameson said. "The animals can basically just run straight down the A/C lines right into the house."

Check to make sure your chimney is secured if you're not using it, and do not leave garage doors open for long periods of time. "Once they make it inside your garage, you know, there's several openings left over in your normal construction where they can actually make it up inside your attic. If you have that doggy door that everybody leaves unlocked, go ahead and lock those up right now because squirrels will just – you'll find one in your kitchen one day," Jameson said.

If you think you have a problem with animals getting into your home, your first inclination, like most people, would be to go around your house and start covering up your holes. However, experts said that's the last thing you want to do.

"If you just close up a hole thinking that you're solving a problem, you might just be creating a worse problem by locking an animal inside the house, which could definitely come into the living space if that happens," Jameson said.

Once an animal gets into your insulation, it can easily get into the house through openings in walls near stoves and dishwashers.

Rodent checklist

• When feeding birds, do not spread food directly onto the ground. Where possible use a hanging type feeder.
• Check around the outside of your property to make sure there are no holes or gaps in the walls where rats and mice can gain entry. If you can fit a pen or pencil in the hole, a mouse will be able to fit too.
• Make sure garage doors are sealed as tightly as possible.
• Whenever possible, keep all external doors closed.
• Avoid leaving any rubbish or household waste in the yard or garden.
• Do not store food such as chocolate or biscuits in your loft for Christmas.

Article provided by Dynamic Pest Control