If you live in the Tampa area, you’ve got a few different rodents to worry about: roof rats, Norway rats, house mice, and even the occasional squirrel. While these pests can invade your home throughout the year, you’re more likely to encounter them in the fall or wintertime. As Florida’s weather begins to cool, these rodents are looking for a warm place to hunker down for the winter, and your home or business can look all too inviting.
Once they’re in, mice and rats can contaminate food and spread up to thirty-five different diseases, while squirrels may chew through your electrical wiring to build their nests.
Fortunately, there are ways to combat rodents in Tampa. Here’s what you should know about why rodents get into your home, why they’re so challenging to get rid of, and how you can prevent infestations in the future.
Why Do Rodents Invade Homes And Businesses In Tampa, FL?
If you're finding rodents in your Tampa home, it's probably for one of three reasons: food, water, or shelter. Most of the time, it's a combination of all three. Mice, rats, and squirrels are scavengers, so if there's food they can access or a little extra moisture from leaky pipes, they'll take advantage of it.
Keep in mind that finding mice, rats, or squirrels in your home doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. Rodents will find food and shelter wherever they can, and if your home or business is close by, it could become their target.
These rodents also have a long history of human dependency, and as long as there's food, water, and shelter available, rats and mice will leech off humans. Squirrels may also enter your home for food or water, but most of the time, it's for shelter. Squirrels are looking for a secluded place to build their nests where they won't have to deal with predators, and your attic or basement can look appealing.
What's worse is that it doesn't take a lot for rodents to make their way inside, especially since their agile bodies make it easy for them to slip through small holes and gaps. House mice can fit through a six to seven-millimeter hole, which is about the size of a pen. Rats and squirrels can both fit through a hole that's about the size of a quarter.
Why Are Rodents So Hard To Get Rid Of In Tampa, FL?
Even if they have rodents in their home, some homeowners might assume that a couple of mice traps will take care of the job, but this usually isn't true. Rodents are clever, and they're masters at hide and seek.
These pests are likely to hide away in the walls or tiny cracks of your home. While they're there, the infestation will only grow. Mice can produce up to 56 pups a year, while rats produce around 40. What may start as two or three rodents looking for shelter can turn into a full-blown infestation within a couple of months.
Squirrels aren't easy to get rid of either, and while they're busy hiding, they tend to cause a lot of damage to the wiring and structure of your home.
Rather than try to combat a rodent problem on your own, the safest (and most effective) solution is a professional one – like those of us at Bold Servicing. Our business model is built on customized, individual service plans, so we'll develop a treatment plan that specifically meets your property's needs.
If you suspect that you've got a rodent problem in your Tampa home, or you're already aware that you do, don't wait to call us at Bold Servicing today to find out more about our rodent control service.
How To Prevent Future Rodent Infestations In Tampa, FL
While working with the professionals might be the best way to deal with an active rodent infestation, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take steps to prevent future ones, such as:
Seal up any "rodent entrances" like tiny cracks and gaps in your walls or tears in door and window screens.
Keep trees near your home regularly trimmed to prevent rats or squirrels from hopping onto your roof.
Keep gardens, trees, and bushes at least three feet away from your exterior walls.
Remove garbage, clutter, or other debris from your yard and property.
Get rid of open food sources that may draw rodents in, like opened food in your home, unsealed garbage cans, or even food scraps around your yard.
Address moisture issues in your home, like leaky pipes or flooded gutters.
Prevention is always the best approach when dealing with rodents around your Tampa home. However, if these dangerous pests make it past your defenses, don't hesitate to call in the experts at Bold Servicing.