Rodent infestation doesn’t just happen — it’s often inadvertently invited. Rodents generally act in predictable ways and respond to particular opportunities.
Mice, rats and squirrels are the most common rodents that may infest residences. Damage to structures and electrical wiring, consumption of foodstuffs and contamination of the living spaces with a variety of infectious bacterial and viral diseases through rat droppings and saliva are the result.

Here are some ways to prevent rodent infestations and, if rodents are already in your home, rid yourself of this threat to health and safety.

• Fruit trees common in south Florida attract rodents. They’re usually attracted to fallen fruit on the ground such as orange, lemons, mangoes, tangerines and grapefruit.
• Rats and squirrels are attracted to insulation on electrical wiring and other household cables. Rodents chew insulation and may cause electrical shorts or fire and interruption of services such as telephone, Internet and cable TV.
• In addition to fallen fruit, grains and seeds both indoors and out are magnets to rodents. Breads, pasta, cookies and baked goods also attract rodents and provide nourishment for accelerated breeding and birth rate.

These strategies can help keep rodent infestation to a minimum.

• Maintain your yard and keep overgrowth of vegetation to a minimum. Indoors, try to minimize household clutter, such as unused furniture and accumulations of newspapers and other paper material.
• Remove birdseed and bird feeders.
• Seal openings that allow rodents to gain entrance into the home. These include cracks in and around doors and windows and openings in the walls where plumbing pipes and electrical conduits. Close the tops of roof vents with wire covers.
• Pick up and dispose of fallen fruit promptly.

Haggerty Pest Service offers professional pest control services to south Florida homeowners. Call us and take advantage of more than 25 years experience in preventing and removing rodent infestation.

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