Four No-Sweat Rodent-Prevention Tips For Oklahoma City Properties

If you've never had the misfortune of dealing with a mouse or rat infestation, you should count yourself lucky. These small animals cause many problems when they get into Oklahoma City properties. In a home, they can damage the structure, damage belongings, spread ticks and fleas, contaminate food, chew on wiring, and more. In a business, they can do all of the above and create bad reviews, cause failed health inspections, and damage the products you sell. It is best to keep these animals outside where they belong. Here are some tips that can help you prevent a rodent infestation in your Oklahoma City property.

Rodent Control Can Make You Sweat

Before we share our four no-sweat rodent-prevention tips, it is important to point out that many of the ways you can stop rodents from getting into your property can make you sweat. A lot!

Removing Hiding Places

• Trim your landscaping to make it feel more open. This will make it more difficult for mice and rats to explore your exterior without feeling exposed.
• Remove objects near your exterior and on your property that mice and rats can hide inside or under.
• Seal off voids underneath structures by applying fencing material, such as chicken wire. Be sure to install it a foot below the surface. Rodents can tunnel underground.
• Remove palm or leaf litter near your exterior walls.

Addressing Standing Water

• Fix plumbing leaks.
• Refrain from overwater your vegetation.
• Clean out gutters and repair damage to your gutter system.
• Remove containers that capture rainwater.

Trash Management

• Bag your trash.
• Put your trash in covered receptacles.
• Remove your trash weekly.
• Clean receptacles if they start to have an odor.

Managing General Food Sources

• Mice and rats eat seeds. If you have bird feeders, move them away from your exterior to keep rodents out of your landscaping.
• If you feed pets or livestock outside, pick food up after mealtimes and never leave food out overnight. Rodents are most active at night. If this is not feasible, be sure to protect food sources so rodents can't get to it.
• If you have a garden, fruit trees, or berry bushes, use fencing material to prevent rodents from accessing these food sources.
• Urban rodents can take to feeding on the droppings of domesticated canines. If you have a dog that leaves droppings on your property, be sure to keep the waste picked up.

Addressing Entry Points

• Replace worn-out weather-stripping and door sweeps.
• Repair or replace damaged screens.
• Fix broken glass panes on windows or doors.
• Use a caulking gun to fill in decaying wood holes, gaps around exterior penetrations, and other small cracks.

Routine Inspections

Inspect your exterior on a regular basis. If mice or rats are chewing on an area, you may be able to detect it and patch the area before they get inside. The tools for this job are metal flashing, steel wool, and caulking.

How To Keep Rodents Out Without Sweating

If you don't want to do all of the hard work listed above, there are a few ways you can deter rodents without lifting a finger. 

• Yard work - There are companies that can take care of yard work for you. If you don't have the time to blow the leaves or trim your vegetation, you can hire someone.
• Exclusions - If you don't have the time, inclination, or skill set to seal the entry points rodents use to get into your home, there are professionals that can do this for you.
• Gutter cleaning and repair - Moisture can create wood rot and this can be a strong motivator for rodents, but getting up there to clean out your gutters or making repairs can be difficult. Fortunately, there are professionals that can do this as well.
• Rodent Control - A rodent control professional can put down tamper-resistant traps or use rodenticides to control rodent pressures and overcome vulnerabilities such as clutter and dense vegetation, water sources in your yard, or wood rot. A rodent control professional can apply exclusions and bolster weak spots rodents are targeting.

First Step To Take With Rodents

At the first sign of rodent activity, it is best to contact a licensed pest control provider. We have the knowledge, tools, and training to provide the best overall services for rodent control, and we are able to provide valuable information to help you determine what other services you may need. If you live in or manage a business in Oklahoma City, contact Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma for guidance in selecting the right rodent control options for your needs and budget. We are familiar with the rodents in our area, and our technicians use field-tested strategies and products to correct rodent problems.