Effective Rodent-Proofing: Sealing Entry Points and Cracks

Effective Rodent-Proofing: Sealing Entry Points and Cracks

Nobody wants rodents in their home; however, rats and mice are efficient at finding their way inside Boston area properties. The nuisance pests often gain access through gaps or cracks in vulnerable places around your home. Once inside, the pests will nest in your attic, walls, or crawl spaces before accessing your food and water sources. Fortunately, there are some rodent-proofing tips to prevent invasive rats and mice from taking over your home.

Rodent-Proofing Your Home

To effectively rodent-proof your property, start by looking in the most exposed areas both in and outside of your home. Some of the most common entry points that rats and mice use include:

  • Gaps under windows and doors
  • Piping leading to sinks, appliances, and water heaters
  • Dryer vents
  • Floor drains in basements or laundry rooms
  • Wall exposures in foundations, basements, and attics crawl spaces
  • Around openings for electric, plumbing, and gas lines

How to Seal Entry Points and Cracks

Once you’ve identified the areas of exposure around your home, seal them up to prevent rodents from getting through. Steel wool is a thick material that rodents can’t chew through. Simply fill the gap with steel wool and caulk around the area to keep it in place. Larger holes can be filled with cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting. Make sure any wet materials used to seal gaps sets properly to ensure your rodent-proofing techniques can’t be chewed or torn through.

The Inefficiencies of DIY Rodent-Proofing

At-home, DIY rodent-proofing may catch some of the vulnerable areas, but it takes expertise to fully ensure rats and mice won’t make it inside your home. Rodent removal professionals will have the experience and equipment to locate rodent entry points and effectively seal them to prevent future infestations. Therefore, the best way to remove rodents and fortify your home is to call the rodent-proofing experts at Critter Control® of Boston.

Professional Rodent-Proofing Services in the Greater Boston Area

At Critter Control® of Boston, our team of wildlife removal professionals use non-toxic, chemical-free, and humane methods to remove rodents and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our efficient rodent-proofing and removal services, call us today at 617-975-0440.

What Is the Best Way to Clean Mouse Droppings?

What Is the Best Way to Clean Mouse Droppings?

Mice may be small, but the mess they leave behind can lead to significant health risks. Contaminated mouse droppings can harbor dangerous pathogens that pose health hazards to you, your family, or your pets. Cleaning up mouse droppings in your Greater Boston area residence requires careful attention and safety measures.

The Dangers of Contaminated Mouse Droppings

Mouse droppings can carry diseases such as Hantavirus and Salmonella, making the rodents a serious health concern. Therefore, proper cleaning and disinfection is essential to protect yourself and others from potential health risks spread by mice.

Equipment Needed to Clean Mouse Droppings

Before you begin to clean mouse droppings, you must first gather the following safety equipment and supplies to keep yourself safe:

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

    • Disposable gloves
    • Safety goggles or glasses
    • Dust mask or respirator
  • Cleaning Supplies

    • Disposable paper towels or cleaning cloths
    • Trash bags
    • Disinfectant cleaner (one with antibacterial properties)
    • A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

How to Clean Mouse Droppings

Follow these steps to clean mouse droppings safely and effectively:

  • Preparation

    • Put on your disposable gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask.
    • Open windows and doors to ensure proper ventilation in the area.
    • Remove any pets from the vicinity.
  • Cleaning

    • Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings, as this can release harmful particles into the air.
    • Spray the droppings and any contaminated areas with disinfectant cleaner.
    • Let the disinfectant sit for at least five minutes to ensure it kills any pathogens.
    • Using disposable paper towels or cleaning cloths, carefully wipe up the droppings and dispose of them in a sealed trash bag.
  • Vacuuming

    • Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter to thoroughly clean the area.
    • Pay special attention to areas where droppings were present.
    • After vacuuming, empty the vacuum bag or canister into a sealed trash bag and dispose of it properly.
  • Final Cleanse

    • Reapply disinfectant cleaner to the entire area and wipe it down.
    • Dispose of any cleaning materials, gloves, and masks used during the process in a sealed trash bag.
  • Post Cleaning Hygiene

    • Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after removing your gloves and mask.

While cleaning mouse droppings is essential for your immediate safety, the best way to maintain a mouse-free property is to enlist the services of professionals who specialize in safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly methods.

Professional Mice Removal Services for a Rodent-Free Property

Critter Control® of Boston is staffed by licensed and trained experts who understand the unique challenges of mice infestations in the Greater Boston area. If your property is overrun with invasive mice, then rely on our professional mice removal experts to permanently put an end to your infestation.

To schedule an inspection and receive a free estimate for our humane and efficient mice removal services, call Critter Control® of Boston today at 617-975-0440.

How Do Exterminators Get Rid of Mice?

How Do Exterminators Get Rid of Mice?

Mice are constantly searching for places to nest. Some of the driving factors that attract mice to residential homes and commercial businesses are sheltered from the elements and direct access to food and water sources. In the Greater Boston area, every home and business owner should be aware of the potential causes and signs of these nuisance rodent infestations and the mice removal techniques exterminators use to get rid of mice on your property.

How Exterminators Get Rid of Mice

Professional mice exterminators use several methods to identify, remove, and prevent mice from nesting in and around your property. These methods include:

  1. Inspecting the infested area.

    One of the first tasks a professional will perform is a home inspection. Mice are flexible critters that can sneak into your home through small holes in and around your property. A qualified exterminator will take a thorough look at all external and internal access points to identify how mice have entered your property. This will go a long way in determining the size of your mice problem and help the exterminator strategize the removal process and where to place preventative measures.

  2. Sealing off potential entry points.

    After identifying the entry points, the next step is sealing off these areas to stop rodents from entering your property. Common sealing methods include using silicone caulk or spray foam.

  3. Setting up traps.

    After the experts have inspected the property and identified the problem, the next step in the mice removal process is setting up traps or applying other methods such as non-toxic, eco-friendly sprays to eliminate the infestation.

  4. Restoring your property.

    After all unwanted mice are safely removed, a reliable exterminator will sanitize any contaminated areas or surfaces, clean up remaining mouse waste, and repair any damage left behind by the infestation.

Dangers of a Mouse Infestation

Having nuisance mice invade your Greater Boston area home can cause multiple issues for you and your family. Potential threats include:

  • Widespread infestation.

    Once inside your property, mice will quickly set up nests and breed. Their breeding period is as short as 20 days and can produce a litter of 3-14 babies.

  • Serious health issues for your family and pets.

    Mice are notorious for carrying diseases that can harm humans and other animals. In fact, mice can spread over 35 diseases through direct contact (bites and scratches) or indirectly through contaminated waste or bites from mites, ticks, and parasites that have fed on infected mice.

  • Damage to your home.

    Mice love to chew on structures, especially wood and wires. Their gnawing will cause damage to your property, lead to fire hazards, and can create entries for other nuisance pests to enter your home.

Expert Boston Area Mice Removal Services

Mice removal may seem like a simple task; however, it should only be performed by experienced and equipped wildlife removal professionals. If you have or suspect a mice infestation in your Greater Boston area home, rely on the experts at Critter Control® of Boston. Our team of licensed and trained technicians use safe and humane methods to remove mice from your home and set up safeguards to help fight against future infestations. To schedule a consultation and receive a free mice removal estimate, call or text Critter Control® of Boston today at 617-975-0440.

5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Mice

5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Mice

Once mice get into your home, it’s a frustrating process to get them out. Their small size allows them to fit into any small crack as they search for food and shelter. Invasive mice can cause serious damage to your Boston home, and they are a health risk to have around your family and pets. If you are dealing with invasive rodents in your Greater Boston area home, here are five easy ways to get rid of pesky mice.

How to Get Rid of Mice From Your Boston Home

  1. Maintain a clean home. Mice enter your property looking for food and can survive off the few crumbs they find on your kitchen floor. Make sure you’re frequently vacuuming your floors, wiping down your counters, and keeping a tight lid on your trash to prevent mice from coming into your home.
  2. Clear the outside of debris. Maintaining the outside of your home is just as important as keeping the inside clean. Removing debris and overgrown weeds helps prevent mice from hiding around the bushes on your Boston property. We also recommend placing gravel around your home to prevent mice from burrowing underneath.
  3. Seal off entry points. If a pencil can fit into a crack or hole, then a mouse can fit through as well. Therefore, seal all cracks, holes, and gaps on any walls, windows, or doors to create a good line of defense for your home. After all, mice are small enough to squeeze into a quarter-size-inch opening. Also, use steel wool or caulking to seal off cracks or holes because mice can gnaw through plastic, rubber, and wood.
  4. Set up mouse traps. The most effective way to get rid of mice is by using mouse traps; however, their effectiveness depends on their placement and the type of bait that is used. The location of the traps needs to change every two days and should be perpendicular to the wall with the trigger section facing the baseboard so that the mouse will run into the bait rather than over the trap. For the bait selection, go for chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal, or cheese, and make sure to replenish with fresh bait every two days.
  5. Call the professionals. Getting rid of mice in your Boston home can be difficult and risky to your health, especially if you lack the proper safety gear and experience. Rather than attempt to do it on your own, rely on the experts at Critter Control® of Boston to get rid of the mice for you.

Get Rid of Mice With Our Effective Boston Mice Removal Services

If you’re dealing with mice in your Boston home, contact the experienced pest control professionals at Critter Control® of Boston for mice removal services to get rid of mice from your property and keep them from returning. Our team of licensed and trained professionals has the necessary tools and experience to effectively evict nuisance mice from your property using safe and humane methods.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our services, call Critter Control® of Boston at 617-975-0440 today.

5 Signs of a Mouse or Rat Infestation in Your Home

5 Signs of a Mouse or Rat Infestation in Your Home

Animals, like humans, are always searching for food and shelter. Few critters are craftier and more dedicated to these pursuits than the mouse and the rat. While some people keep these rodents as pets, invasive mice and rats that are left to breed and spread throughout a home can be a dangerous and costly situation for a homeowner.

With the real threat of health risks and property damage in mind, it’s vital that you know the signs of a mouse or rat infestation in your Greater Boston area home and what steps to take to end it.

The 5 Signs of a Mouse or Rat Infestation

While mice and rats are clever critters, they are bad at covering their tracks. Therefore, the signs of a mouse or rat infestation are easy to notice. Here are five signs that can help you determine if you have mouse or rat infestation in your home:

  1. Droppings

    Dark stains and the presence of fecal matter around your home are usually the most prominent signs of a growing rodent infestation.

  2. Smell of urine

    Mice and rat urine has an especially pungent smell similar to ammonia that can permeate throughout your residential property.

  3. Gnawed material

    Both rodent species love chewing through wood beams, electrical wires, plastic pipes, cardboard boxes, and anything else in their way. Their gnawing can create fire hazards, costly damage, and small holes that they can travel through.

  4. Nighttime noises

    With easily identifiable squeaking, scurrying, and scratching noises, mice and rats give away their locations in attics and interior walls.

  5. Unusual pet behavior

    Dogs and cats are very attuned to other creatures. If your dog or cat is barking or scratching at your ceiling and walls, then they are likely detecting the smell of mice and rats inside the home.

Effective Mouse and Rat Infestation Elimination

Mice and rats are prime vehicles for infectious diseases, contamination, and property damage. If you recognize any of the above indicators of a mouse or rat infestation, call a professional immediately. For safe, fast, and humane Greater Boston area mouse and rat removal, no one in the is better equipped than the wildlife removal experts at Critter Control® of Boston.

Expert Greater Boston Area Mouse and Rat Removal

If your property in the Greater Boston area is overrun with invasive rodents such as rats and mice, then rely on the professional animal removal experts at Critter Control® of Boston. Whether you have an existing pest problem or want to prevent one from ever starting, you can count on us for safe and effective services. To schedule an inspection for your Greater Boston area home or business, call us today at 617-975-0440.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Mice

6 Ways to Get Rid of Mice

Searching for snacks, water, or a safe nesting spot, mice can make their way into your home for a number of reasons. When one mouse wanders in, others are sure to follow—multiplying quickly, rapidly damaging property, and exposing your family to harmful diseases. To keep a few mice from turning into a full-blown infestation, here are a few things you need to know about getting rid of mice.

How to Get Rid of Mice

  1. Check your home for points of entry

    When was the last time you checked your home for cracks, holes, or openings? Most people don’t think to do so until it’s too late. Give your home a thorough scan, then seal off any potential points of entry. Mice can squeeze in through openings as small as a quarter of an inch, so keep an eye out for even the smallest cracks and cover them.

  2. Set up traps

    For the most part, mouse traps are effective in getting rid of mice. Snap traps, which use a trigger system to capture mice, are the most common type of trap. Inexpensive and often reusable, these traps offer the biggest bang for your buck. Bait your traps with a variety of mouse-approved options like peanut butter, chocolate, cheese, and nuts. Be sure to replace any uneaten bait every two days and dispose of any trapped mice in a timely manner.

  3. Get rid of the food supply

    Mice don’t need very many crumbs to fill their bellies. Thoroughly secure your garbage with air-tight lids, sweep up any loose crumbs in the kitchen, and put away any remaining pet food at night.

  4. Remove extra paper products

    Not only will mice use paper products to build nests, but they also eat paper and cardboard. Any extra cardboard boxes or food packaging laying around is potential food for a mouse.

  5. Clear away debris outside

    If you have mice inside, you probably have mice outside as well. Remove overgrown weeds and tidy up any out-of-hand bushes where mice like to hide. Spreading gravel can also be helpful for keeping mice from digging and burrowing around the foundation of your home.

  6. Contact mice removal professionals

    Once mice have set up camp in your home, they can be tough and dangerous to get rid of without professional help. Instead of attempting mice removal on your own, hire equipped and experienced professionals who know how to handle mice and keep them from coming back. The team of wildlife and pest control experts at Critter Control® of Boston is ready to permanently solve your mouse problem.

Get Rid of Mice With Professional Boston Mice Removal Services

Getting rid of mice in your home isn’t easy, but you don’t have to go at it alone. The licensed and certified experts at Critter Control® of Greater Boston are here to help. If your property is overrun with a pest problem or if you want to prevent one from starting, contact our dedicated professionals to protect your property with safe, effective, and humane services you can count on.

To schedule an inspection for your Greater Boston area home or business and receive a free estimate for our services, call us today at 617-975-0440.

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