How to Rid Your Yard of Rodents

an overhead shot of a mouse looking up from a corner

Rodents are unwelcome guests that nobody wants in their homes or yard. They can carry diseases and cause extensive damage to your home by chewing on the wooden structure or electrical wires, putting both your home and family at risk. Once you spot signs of rodents in your yard, it is important to take action quickly and get rid of them to prevent a bigger infestation.

Signs You Have a Rodent Infestation

Seeing rodents scurry across your yard is the biggest sign that you may have a rodent problem.  But these pests are excellent at hiding and usually only come out at night, making it difficult to spot an infestation. Other signs you may have a rodent problem include finding:

  • Rodent Trails: Rodents will establish paths through your yard and home, resulting in worn-down grass or dirt and greasy rub marks along your walls. Following these trails can help you find and eliminate entrance points, nests, or food sources.
  • Feces: Finding rodent feces is another surefire sign that you have a rodent infestation. Rodent feces is dark and rice shaped. Rat droppings will be much larger than mice droppings.
  • Burrows: Norway rats will burrow into the ground around home foundations or gardens to build their nests. Their burrows are 2 to 3 inches around and up to 6 ½ feet deep. Keep an eye out for any new holes in your yard.
  • Gnaw marks: A rodent’s teeth never stop growing. To keep their teeth short and manageable, rodents gnaw on anything they can – electrical wires, wood, and even drywall. Seeing gnaw marks in or around your home is a clear sign of a rodent infestation.
  • Nesting materials: Deer mice and house mice will gather leaves, sticks, and other fibrous materials to construct their nests. Finding clusters of these materials usually means there are mice nearby. 

Keeping Rodents Out of Your Yard and Home

  • Remove clutter: Rodents like to hide and build their nest in quiet, dark places. Clearing your home and yard of clutter will deter rodents from moving in.
  • Seal entry points: Rats and mice will enter a home looking for food and shelter. Make sure to seal any holes or cracks on the exterior of your home to prevent these unwanted guests from invading.
  • Set traps: Many people will set out traps once they see signs of rodent activity. There are a variety of traps you may use to get rid of rodents; some use poison to eliminate rodents, while others trap and either quickly kill them or keep them alive for you to relocate the rodent. Traps can be extremely effective in eliminating individual rodents but will not control a larger population.
  • Natural deterrents: Some strong smells such as peppermint, garlic, and vinegar are great natural rodent deterrents. Apply these scents in areas with rodent activity to keep them away.
  • Properly store food: Most rodents enter a home looking for food. Ensure food is stored in airtight containers, the kitchen is clean, and do not leave food on your counters.

Calling in the Professionals

Rodents in your yard often mean rodents in your home as well. These pests can damage your home and carry harmful diseases, making it extremely important to deal with any infestation quickly and effectively. Do-it-yourself methods may be appealing but often ineffective and can lead to bigger infestations. Removing rodents is best left to professional exterminators, like those at Pest Defense Solutions. We will be able to quickly and effectively rid your yard of rodents and create a plan to keep them away for good. If you suspect you have a rodent infestation, contact us today for a free quote! 

Why Wildlife Exclusion is Necessary

A raccoon in a dumpster in El Paso TXOur critter control experts at Pest Defense Solutions have been helping local homes and businesses keep safe from the many dangers of wildlife invasions for over 9 years. We’ve learned that implementing wildlife exclusion strategies before you start to notice issues is not only essential, it is possible to do on your own! Whether you’re looking to get ahead of potential wildlife problems this winter or you’re currently dealing with the presence of wild animals on your property, we have the right course of action for you. Read on to learn how to handle wildlife exclusion in El Paso!

Why Should You Do Wildlife Exclusion?

At Pest Defense Solutions, we believe that wildlife exclusion shouldn’t be a secondary measure. It should be rooted into the upkeep routines you use to maintain a safe and pleasant-looking property. This is because wild animals can cause serious problems for your home or business, ranging from garden theft to property damage to the spread of disease. Making use of our roofing, crawl spaces, sheds, and more, wild animals will stop at nothing to find food and shelter, disrupting our daily life in the process.

These are the kinds of wild animals we deal with most regularly:

  • Opossums
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Mice, rats, and more

How to Handle Wildlife Exclusion by Yourself

We recommend that you take these measures to protect your home or business in El Paso from wildlife:

  1. Seal holes in building exteriors: Seal cracks and gaps in the foundation, roofing, siding, and plumbing fixtures with a silicone-based caulk to prevent pest entry.
  2. Place caps on air vents and chimneys: Raccoons are notorious for invading chimneys looking for a warm place to hide. Purchase caps from a nearby home improvement store to cover your chimneys and air vents.
  3. Trim trees and bushes: Plant overgrowth in your yard can create hiding places for opossums, squirrels, and more wild animals.
  4. Check outdoor structures and appliances often: If you leave a car dormant outside or have a shed, you could be inviting animals to take shelter within. Check them routinely for wildlife presence.

Professional Wildlife Control Services in El Paso

Although the best way to keep wild animals off of your property is to conduct wildlife exclusion in the first place, many people come to us when it’s too late to get ahead of their issue. If this sounds like your situation, let us know as soon as you can. Our wildlife control experts at Pest Defense Solutions are trained in multiple methods of wildlife removal aimed at safe and efficient relocation whenever possible. We will identify the vulnerabilities that led to your wildlife issue and help you correct them to prevent future ones. Reach out today to learn more and receive a free quote!