How to Critter-Proof Your Connecticut Home

How to Critter-Proof Your Connecticut Home

Rodents, squirrels, raccoons, and other creatures are the last thing you want invading your nice cozy Connecticut home. But exterminators are expensive and generally a last resort. Here are some tips you can implement now to prevent the problem.

It begins in the yard. Seal all your garbage in metal, closed trash cans. Get rid of anything in your yard that allows rodents a place to curl up in. Keeping landscaping minimal ensures that there aren’t any places for rodents to hide in.

The same theory applies to the garage, shed, or other semi-outdoor storage areas. Clutter that has accumulated over the years are safe havens for rats and rodents. Cleaning out your shed and garage periodically eliminates nesting homes for rodents and can help keep them out of your home.

For inside the home, cleanliness always helps keep rodents away. Small things, like keeping the floor swept and keeping all food sealed tight and above counter level can also help. However, even the cleanest, scrubbed down and bleached clean home is still susceptible to critters. Pests come through cracks, open spaces, and any holes in the wall- even if your home is clean, if it isn’t critter-proofed, they will come in.

Assess your Connecticut home. Pay special attention to gaps and holes around pipes as leaks can widen holes and create openings. Any crack or opening could be an entrance into your home. A rat can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. For mice, the point of entryway need only be about the size of a dime. Use aluminum window screens over areas you can’t block up, such as windows, door sweeps, vents, and chimneys.

If you do encounter a serious rodent or infestation problem that you can’t handle, contact a professional exterminator.

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