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A Helpful Rodent Prevention Guide For Detroit Lake Property Owners


December 15, 2020

There are two types of furry creatures in this world, furry friends and furry foes. Furry friends are cats, dogs, ferrets, and other loving companions people adopt and bring home. Furry foes are the wildlife that causes trouble in and around homes. Today we will be talking about the worst type of furry troublemaker you could ever have inside your Detroit Lake home, rodents. If you don’t know much about these invasive pests but know you don’t want them in or around your home, use this helpful prevention guide.

house mouse in a tea cup

Common Rodents Around Detroit Lake

Thousands of species of rodents exist around the globe. Thankfully, only a handful live here in Detroit lake, and even less are known for invading properties. The three most common rodents here in Oregon are house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats. Although different in size and color, these three invasive pests have many things in common. For one, they are all nimble, able to climb tall walls, jump far distances, and squeeze through the smallest of holes, gaps, and cracks. For house mice, a hole only has to be the size of a nickel for them to squeeze their way into a home. On top of being agile, rodents also have sharp front teeth. These teeth are strong enough to chew through plastic, wood, and even certain metals. 

How Rodents Invade

Rodents most commonly get inside through a gap, crack, opening, or exterior damage along the exterior of a home. Even the most secure homes experience general wear and tear over time. Storms rip off shingles, changes in temperature crack foundations, decay breaks apart seals, and creates openings. So many factors lead to weak spots for rodents to squeeze or chew their way into your home.

The Danger Of Rodents

When rodents invade homes, they bring all of their problems with them. One of the biggest problems rodents pose is with the bacteria, pathogens, and parasitic worms they spread off their fur and through their fecal matter and urine. Here are just a few of the most common diseases rodents carry and spread, according to the CDC:

  • Hantavirus
  • Rat-Bite Fever
  • Lassa Fever
  • Plague
  • Tularemia
  • Salmonellosis

In addition to directly spreading disease, rodents also indirectly spread other diseases through the fleas and ticks they can carry. These small parasitic pests piggyback their way into homes on rodents and are a huge threat to both humans and pets alike.

How To Prevent Rodents 

If your home does not yet have a rodent infestation, it is not too late to put prevention tips in place. Here are some of the best exclusion tips our experts recommend you put in place:

  • Use some steel wool and a tube of caulk to fill in gaps, cracks, and holes in your home’s exterior foundation.
  • Repair any damage to your home’s shingles, roofline, and siding.
  • Make sure your gutters are in good working condition.
  • Trim back branches and foliage at least 5 feet from your home’s exterior.
  • Fix damaged or worn weatherstripping, window and door screens, and door sweeps.
  • Keep your yard and home as clean as possible.
  • Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their bowls after every meal.
  • After every meal, store leftovers inside airtight containers.
  • Invest in rodent-proof trash cans if you do not already have some.

To take your rodent control to the next level, let Kanga Pest Control help. Our team is ready to put in place advanced rodent exclusion methods around your property to ensure furry foes of all shapes and sizes stay out in nature where they belong. We also offer quality trapping services for homes already suffering with a rodent infestation. Call us at Kanga Pest Control or reach out to us through our website to find out more about how we can protect your Oregon home against troublesome rodents.

Tags: rodent control | rodent infestation | rodent problems |