As soon as the leaves fall in Lewis County and the cold Centralia winter arrives, people look forward to cozying up indoors. Unfortunately, mice and rats are looking for the same thing. Like you, they also love warmth, shelter, and an easy meal.
When outside food becomes scarce and temperatures drop, these pests move from the fields and riverbanks right into your homes. Rodents can squeeze through very tiny gaps. A mouse only needs a space the size of a dime!
Preventing them from moving in is easier than trying to get them out later. Do not let mice and rats turn your cozy Centralia home into their winter lodge. Call a Centralia pest company today and schedule your rodent exclusion service.
Why Centralia is a Rodent Magnet in Winter
Centralia’s location in the damp Chehalis Valley means there is plenty of moisture. This causes softening of materials and gives rodents easier entry. For many of Centralia’s historic homes and older Lewis County properties, common entry points are unsealed crawl spaces and gaps in original utility connections
Once they get inside, the situation becomes much more challenging. They can chew through wires, damage insulation, and spread diseases and germs. The number one key to your protection is to seal them out completely.
Step 1: Find the Hidden Doors
Rodents are not going to walk in through your front door. To start the exclusion process, you need to take a walk around your Centralia property and look closely at the walls, roof, and foundation. This is where the hidden spots lie that rodents use to sneak in.
- Utility lines
- Vents and chimneys
- Garage door seals
- Foundation cracks
- The roofline
Look for gaps and cracks in these areas. If you find even the smallest openings, you need to fix them before a rodent comes in.
Step 2: Use the Right Tools to Seal the Gaps
The next most important step is to use the right tools. These materials are the ones that rodents cannot chew through. Foam or rubber would not work here, as these pests will probably treat those like snacks.
For smaller holes, you can use coarse steel wool, the kind that is used for scrubbing pots. Then, cover the steel wool with outdoor-grade caulk to keep it in place and block drafts.
For larger holes, you can use heavy-gauge metal mesh, which is often called hardware cloth. For vents, make sure that they have screens made of metal mesh. Plastic screening is too easy to chew through.
Finally, trim your trees! If you have trees in your lawn and they hang over your roof, rodents can use them to enter your property.
Step 3: Clean Up the Yard
Simply cleaning your property won’t keep rodents away, but it is still a major step in preventing them. Rodents need food and a safe place to hide near your home before they decide to move inside. Therefore, you have to make sure that you do not leave these comforts outdoors.
If you have pets, do not keep their food bowls outside overnight. Bring inside any bird seed and pet supplies every night before you go to sleep. Further, ensure that your garbage cans have tight and fully sealed lids. Even a tiny piece of food near the bin can attract pests.
Even the most thorough homeowner can miss the signs of a hidden or existing rodent issue. This is where Pointe Pest Control’s expertise becomes essential. As Centralia’s local rodent control specialists, they are trained to identify pest populations and apply advanced removal techniques. Contact Pointe Pest Control today for a professional inspection!
