What Attracts Mice And Rats To Our Homes?

Seeing a mouse or rat scurrying across your floor is enough to make a person shriek. The mere thought of an infestation is the stuff of nightmares. But why is it that a person can keep a clean home or business and still find rodents claiming the domain as their own? Why might rodents show up in one place but leave the neighbors alone? Although rats, mice, and filth seem to go hand in hand, the mere presence of rodents doesn’t necessarily signify a dirty abode. There could be small mistakes you’re making that lead to big consequences in the rodent realm.

In general, rodents that enter your home or business are looking for a warm place to sleep, something to drink, or something good to eat. Dripping or leaking pipes, spigots, or sprinklers make for a great water outdoor water source, and clogged gutters can provide a drink as well as shelter. Once inside, they love the moisture under sinks and in bathrooms.

Smells can be a huge factor in what’s attracting them to your home, and those coming from loose garbage, debris, or compost could be drawing them in.

You should also ensure that the garbage cans outside your home are properly sealed or enclosed so that the aromatic enticement is decreased or inaccessible. That being said, the smells don’t have to be foul or even especially potent to attract rodents. Those aromas emanating from your BBQ are sure to attract the neighbors, and unfortunately, four-legged guests as well. If the olfactory overload is not enough, the food and drippings left on the cooking surfaces of BBQs and outdoor kitchens are the cherry on top. You might see mice darting through your kitchen after catching a whiff of peanut butter because the cap is slightly loose.

Rats have their own favorite smells. Dog food is a major contributor to the attraction of rats. Many people keep pet food in the garage, not realizing that it only brings the smell closer to rats searching for a snack. The creatures can easily sneak through gaps in your garage door. Leaving garage doors open for an extended period is a recipe for an infestation. Many homeowners leave their pet food and water out all day, and some make sure the local strays have food, but they’re not the only ones eating it.

Cars that haven’t been started for a long time and are outside or sitting in the garage for a while make a great spot for them to flock to. They’ll sneak into whatever warm spot they can find, be it the engine, the space between the windshield wipers and the hood, around filters, or even in the air intake system. Once they’ve settled in and formed a nest, they’ll multiply and seek out new housing within the building itself.

Though mice and rats are the rodents we think of most frequently, we can’t forget squirrels. Squirrels, in particular, don’t care for open spaces, so they seek out thick vegetation, stacked wood, overgrown hedges and shrubs, and dense trees. Regular lawn maintenance and clear pathways to the house can go a long way in keeping squirrels at bay.

Rodents can sneak in through incredibly small holes. If you have an opening outside your house wider than a dime, mice can sneak through; if that gets to the size of a nickel, you’re welcoming rats into the building. Outside, they’re likely to be near doors, windows, or the foundation of the house. A crawl space that is not encapsulated is an open invitation. Overhanging tree limbs are a roof rat’s favorite and could lead them to open attic vents, chimneys, and a direct line inside. Even the smallest gaps in grates, screens, dryer vents or other coverings can be enough for a rodent to sneak into your home.

There are also a number of plants that can bring a mouse to your house,  and rats love ivy. It gives them a great surface to grip while climbing up the side of your home. They could be going after the seeds and fruit you’ve left out in your bird feeders, and if you have fruit trees, failure to pick up the fallen fruit is like a trip to the produce section of the supermarket.

To put an end to rodent issues with North Carolina’s best pest control service, contact At Ease Pest Solutions. As a veteran-owned company, we understand that problems have to be attacked from all angles; that means we don’t just get rid of the issue at hand; we take steps to make sure it’s prevented from happening again.