Tucson's Guide To Complete Rodent Control

How bad is a rodent control problem? Well, it depends on what kind of rodents you're having a problem with inside your home or on your property. Some rodents don't get into Tucson homes. The most common type of lawn rodent we deal with is the pocket gopher. They're the rodents that create holes and mounds of dirt in your yard. If you see gopher activity, you don't have to worry about these pests entering your home. But we have some backyard rodents that can become an indoor pest problem. The most common are mice, roof rats, and packrats. Join us today as we look at each of these home-invading pests. We'll discuss the problems they cause in your home or on your property, give you five eco-friendly rodent exclusion tips, and tell you how Conquistador Pest & Termite can take care of rodent problems for you. If you would like to get information about professional rodent pest control in Tucson but you don't want to read a blog post, no worries. Give us a call or jump over to our contact page and request assistance. Our pest management professionals are happy to help.

Identifying a Rodent Problem In Your Home

The three rodent pests that find their way into your home may let you know it by bumping around in your attic, walls, and other structural voids. All three tend to love attic spaces, particularly unfinished attics. Unfortunately, these pests can live in your home without making any noticeable noises. Here are a few other warning signs you can search for in your home.

Droppings. Rodents don't use the bathroom—well, not for the reasons you do. They leave their waste as they explore your home. The droppings of rodents range in size. Mice have tiny droppings that are smaller than grains of white rice. Rat droppings are twice the size of mouse droppings. If you find tiny black specks that look more like pepper and less like rice, those are insect droppings. Look for rodent droppings along walls, inside voids, and secluded spaces.
The scent of urine. Rodents use their urine for navigation. They map out the aromas around them so they can tell where they are and how far they are from the walls. As a rodent explores, it leaves droplets of urine. The longer you have an infestation, the stronger the scent of urine will become. If you go into your attic and smell urine, you may not immediately know what kind of animal you're dealing with, but you'll know you have a problem.
Holes. Rodents chew holes that are less than the size of a quarter. If you find holes in your home, or objects in your home, it can alert you to a problem. Small holes, about the size of a dime, are an indication that you have a mouse infestation. Larger holes are likely roof rats or packrats.
Nests. Rodents create nests made from soft materials found indoors, or natural materials found outside. If you see insulation, cushion stuffing, twigs, leaves, or some other materials in one spot, you're likely looking at a rodent nest. Inspect recesses and dark voids for these nests.
Grease marks. When rodents run along baseboards, storage boxes, and other surfaces, they may leave marks that are noticeable. Check secluded spaces to find these grease marks.

When you find evidence of rodents in your home, it is wise to take steps to address the problem as quickly and effectively as possible. These pests can impact your health and damage your property if they go untreated. They can also continue to harm you and cause damage if you attempt to get rid of them without success. Let's quickly look at some common problems associated with mice, roof rats, and packrats.

All The Problems Rodents Can Create In Your House

When yard rodents turn into home-infesting pests, they can't help but cause problems. They are wild animals after all. As wild rodents, mice, roof rats, and packrats have similar traits. We'll start with the common problems that result from these traits.

Rodents chew on all kinds of things. They chew to file their teeth down. When they get into your home, they can chew on a variety of things: Food packages in your kitchen, walls, baseboards, stored items in your attic, foam insulation, and wiring. The worst is wiring because a cut wire can create a spark, and a spark can turn into a flame.
Contact with waste is a disease concern. When waste dries, it can take to the air and create respiratory issues.
The droplets of urine rodents leave in your home are a disease concern. Avoid contact with contaminated surfaces.
The droppings and urine rodents leave in your home can soil stored items and contaminate your insulation, among other things. Clean up is often a chore, and some items are uncleanable.
Rodents pick up ticks and fleas. They can bring these into your home and drop them off as they explore. Ticks and fleas are associated with a long list of diseases. Ticks are particularly dangerous.

When rodents in Tucson take up residence in your home, contact Conquistador Pest & Termite for industry-leading rodent control. We'll help you find the right solution for your specific rodent control problem.

Five Eco-Friendly Rodent Exclusion Tips For Around The House

Before rodents get into your home, there are ways you can keep them out. These methods are one hundred percent all-natural and require no specialized knowledge of rodent species. If you're handy with a caulking gun and rudimentary construction materials, you can tackle these vulnerabilities.

Remove access to nesting sites. Rodents will often nest or hide under exterior structures before getting into a home. Install fencing around structural voids to keep rodents out. When you install the material, make sure to insert it at least a foot into the ground. Doing so will prevent rodents from digging a hole and climbing under.
Remove hiding places. Rats and mice like to get into vegetation and hide in overgrowth. Trimming the plants in your landscaping can open things up and make this zone less inviting. If you have objects near your exterior, particularly junk piles, move them well away from your exterior. Some rodents are drawn to piles. If you have lawn clutter, pick those items up and store them away. Rodents use them to navigate in your yard.
Block routes. Rodents will climb trees to get onto your roof. They can leap several feet from a branch and fall to the ground without hurting themselves. Trim branches to remove this route. Rodents climb pipes on the exterior of homes. Install a rodent guard to stop them from climbing up to your roof. Rodents sometimes use downspouts as up-spouts. If you stuff wire mesh into your downspouts, it will allow water to run out and prevent rodents from running up.
Seal gaps around pipes. If your pipes aren't properly sealed, you can bet rodents will use those gaps to enter your home. A full-sized rat only needs a gap the width of a quarter to squeeze into your home. Expanding foam or caulking can help keep rodents out. If they chew at the material and keep trying to get inside, use metal flashing or hardware cloth for more protection.
Seal gaps around pipes underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks. When rodents get inside, you don't want to make it easy for them to move about in the voids of your kitchen if you can help it. Get down low and seal any holes underneath cabinet overhangs, and consider sliding your oven out to seal any holes behind your oven and cabinetry.

These methods aren't easy. If you don't have the contractor skills, time, or energy, remember that a pest management company, like Conquistador Pest & Termite, will address entry points with exclusion work, while directly addressing your rodent problem with traps, bait, glue boards, and other control products.

Professional Rodent Control For Tucson Residents

When you apply exclusions on your own, you also need to know how to get rid of rodents. Unfortunately, rodents don't make it easy for you. They have behavior patterns that allow them to avoid DIY rodent control. If they avoid your attempts to remove them from your home, they will continue to present a threat to your health and property. In many cases, DIY rodent control ends up costing more because rodents damage stored items. Some valuable keepsakes have no price tag.

If you're in Tucson, contact us to request rodent control service. We offer rodent removal and exclusion to address rodent infestations, and ongoing pest control service to proactively prevent rodent infestations or prevent future infestations after getting rodent control. Our pest management professionals have the certifications, training, and experience to provide you with exceptional service and results you can count on. Navigate to our contact page and connect with us, or simply call for service. We're here to help you with all of your Tucson pest concerns.