How Do I Keep Rodents Out Of My House In The Fall?
Fall in Albuquerque is a beautiful time of year. The crisp air and changing leaves signal the transition from scorching summer temperatures to more comfortable weather. However, as the temperatures drop, it's also the time when rodents become more active and seek shelter in warmer places, including our homes. To help you prepare for rodent season in Albuquerque, we'll discuss the signs of rodent infestations and how to prevent these unwelcome guests from invading your home.
Why you’re more likely to see mice & rats in the fall
Although rodents are active year-round in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and throughout New Mexico, fall is the time of year when rodents are not only in search of food and water, but also shelter that protects against the dropping temperatures. In fact, as the season progresses, rodents become more determined to find warm and protected havens where they can stay put during the winter.
Rodent populations may increase in the fall
When it starts to cool in New Mexico, it’s not uncommon for rodents to complete one breeding cycle outdoors before winter arrives. Since the gestation period for both mice and rats is usually less than 30 days, you cannot dismiss the possibility that adult rodents and their offspring will head indoors- prompting a full-blown infestation. Also, under the right conditions, mice and rats will continue to breed throughout the year. In other words, your house could become a nursery.
How to tell if you have rodent activity
Identifying the signs of mice and rats early can help you act before the problem becomes severe. Look out for these common indicators:
- Droppings
Mice droppings are smaller and pointed, while rat droppings are larger and more rounded. - Gnaw marks
Mice and rats constantly gnaw on objects to keep their teeth from growing too long. If you have an infestation in your home, there’s a good chance you’ll see chew marks on electrical wires, doors, wooden structures, and food packaging. - Nesting materials
If you find shredded paper, cardboard, insulation, or fabric in unusual places, it may be a sign that rodents are creating nests. - Strange noises
Listen for scratching or scurrying sounds in walls, ceilings, or attics, especially at night when rodents are most active. - Odor
Rodents often leave behind a distinct, musty odor. If you notice an unusual smell in your home, it could be a sign of a rodent infestation.
How to prevent rodents from invading your home this fall
Rather than share your home with these commensal rodents this fall or any other time of the year, we highly recommend stopping them from entering by implementing the following rodent prevention tips:
- Locate & seal potential entry points
Inspect your home for cracks, holes, or gaps in walls, doors, windows, and foundations. Seal these entry points with caulk, weatherstripping, or wire mesh. - Declutter your home & garage
- Mice and rats like to hide from the occupants of homes, and clutter often provides the cover they’re looking for. Eliminate hiding spots by hauling away cardboard boxes, donating, or tossing unused items, and using durable plastic containers to hold clothes, seasonal décor, and other items that are usually found in storage areas.
- Discourage rodent activity with regular housekeeping
Not only are rodents attracted to clutter, but they will also come calling if the detect crumbs and spills on the kitchen floors, open packages of food in the pantry or cupboards, grease build up on the kitchen stove, and trash overflowing from the can. Regular housekeeping is a must if you want to make your home less appealing to rodents and that includes routine vacuuming and mopping, making sure your kitchen sink is free of dirty dishes every night, disinfecting counters and other surfaces often, and completing out household cleaning tasks. - Keep your yard picked up
Yards with shrubs, woodpiles, and debris attract rodents as do fallen fruits, bird seed, dog poop, and open containers of trash. Keeping your yard picked up, hauling away unused items, picking up pet waste, and storing trash in outdoor bins with tight-fitting lids will help deter rodents.
How to get rid of rodents ASAP
If you’ve discovered droppings in your kitchen, have heard noises in the walls at night, or have even spotted a rodent scurrying along the edge of the garage wall, contact Greenway Pest Solutions right away for quick elimination!
Our local pest control specialists offer home pest control in Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and Sunland Park as well as throughout our service area that includes:
- An initial inspection to identify the pest, locate nesting sites, and to determine where they’re getting in
- An interior and exterior pest treatment for rodents including exterior rodent bait stations, if necessary
- Ongoing, quarterly service to ensure that mice, rats, and other house-infesting pests don’t have the opportunity to re-infest
At the first sign of a rodent problem, contact Greenway Pest Solutions for relief; you can count on our team to get rid of mice and rats that are causing problems in and around your home, no matter what time of year!
