There are a lot of wonderful things that the winter season brings us each year; Snow, laughter, and presents to name a few. However, there is something that is less than merry that winter tends to invite more frequently than preferred, and that’s infestations. In particular, rat infestations in winter are far more common than one would like.
These infestations make sense when you consider all of the wonderful aspects of your home that would drive a rat to it. Your home’s warmth and access to food, for instance, are an inviting recipe for a number of unwanted critters. That’s why, in this article, we’ll be sharing five of the best tips for dealing with rat infestations in winter. Though we hope that you’ll never experience the ordeal, we hope that with these tricks you’ll be able to take back control of your household in no time at all.
Put All Food Away (Including Your Pet’s)
Rats might love human food, but they enjoy pet food nearly as much!
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For an infestation to be successful in the first place, the creatures in question need to be certain that your home has adequate sources of food accessible. If you want to combat this, you need to hunker down your kitchen and ensure any and every edible item is stored safely away. It’s also important that you check inside your cupboards and other food storage areas to be sure that there isn’t any wall access that the rodents can climb in or out from.
Something else important to consider, something that many overlook, is pet food. The fact is, rodents find your pet’s food to be just as delicious as the stuff that humans eat. So, if your food is tightly stored away, it’s worth it to go the extra mile and lock down your pet’s food, too.
Clean Your Home From Clutter
There are several places for rats to hide in a messy home.
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The reason why the concept of “spring cleaning” is so popular is that we tend to let our messes get a bit out of hand during the winter. This is definitely a contributing factor to the number of rat infestations in winter because the extra clutter gives them plenty of room to maneuver around as they please without fear of getting caught. This problem is especially prevalent in areas of the home that typically get neglected or left alone- attics and basements, for instance.
Even so much as a quick twenty-minute cleaning around the more troublesome areas in your home can be enough to snuff out some of their favorite hiding places. They might be clever, but so is your vacuum!
Close Any Wall Gaps
There are very few spaces too small for a determined rodent to squish into.
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Rats have the uncanny ability to squeeze into very tight spaces. They’ve been known to sneak through slits as tiny as a 1/4 inch thick! That’s why, each winter, you should do a spot check around all the walls of your home. Take the time to seal up any cracks or crevices you see. Some areas that go overlooked are:
- Window screens with tears
- Chimneys
- Cracks or gaps in pipes
When it comes to sealing things up, better safe than sorry! Rat infestations in the winter are much easier to prevent than they are to fix.
Maintain Your Trees and Weeds
Ensure that rats can’t access your home through untrimmed plants.
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There aren’t many good things that one can say about wild rats, but one that can be given is that they’re very clever. These resourceful rodents will think up every method possible to gain access to your home. Climbing, it seems is not out of the question. Take note if you have particularly tall trees that have limbs near the second story of your home. Then, consider taking some time this winter to give those trees a generous trim. The same goes for any weeds or ivy that trail up the side of your home. This is especially important if they end at the bottom of a window or other entry point. After all, it’s not like rats are notorious for using the front door!
Add Strips Under Your Doors
Deterring rats is just one bonus of installing a brush strip underneath your door during the winter.
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A lot of doors, particularly older ones, have little gaps at the bottom. There are many who opt to install brush strips to those doors in order to save a bit on their gas bill while warming up their home more consistently. But, there’s another added bonus to installing these strips. You guessed it: It’s a great way to keep rats out of your home. These tiny spaces are just large enough to accommodate access for rodents, and one leads to many in no time at all. There are plenty of easily-installed options, and it’s something that has a win-win bonus!
