As temperatures drop, it’s common for overwintering pests to seek shelter from the cold – and your garage could be the perfect environment for scavengers wanting to stow away for the season. Because they are easily accessible, garages are good places for pests to hide. A warm, enclosed space like a garage provides protection from the elements as well as providing limited interaction with humans.
But pests such as rodents can ravage your garage, destroying electrical wiring and woodwork. They also can bring disease and destruction to wherever they inhabit. Unnoticed or left untreated long enough, a mouse or rodent population can increase exponentially, and eventually even find their way into your home.
But with the right precautions, you can protect your home and winterize your garage to prevent rodent infestations. Take a look at these helpful tips on keeping the rodents out of your garage, so that you have one less thing to worry about when temperatures fall.
Most signs of a rodent infestation are easy so spot. Typically, rodents are obnoxious, loud and rank, leaving noticeable odors and visible signs of destruction. Keep an eye for chewed-through wires, damage to furniture, teeth marks on woodwork, holes or tears in screens, and rodent droppings. If you see one rodent, it’s likely there are many more. If you find any signs of an infestation, be careful, as many rodents can carry harmful diseases. When cleaning up any messes made by rodents, the CDC recommends the follow guidelines.
More than just garages, rodents are found also in basements, attics and storage areas. Sometimes they can even find their way into walls via heating and cooling ventilation systems. If you suspect this may be the case, it’s best to contact a professional, like ScherZinger. Professionals are experts at exterminating rodents within ventilation systems.
There is a full-range of preventative treatment methods to keep rodents out. Start with caulking and sealing all holes, cracks and crevices around your foundation, windows and doors. Also, place mesh screens on vents and always keep garage doors and windows shut tight. The cold weather can also bring rodents from underground sewers to the surface, which was reported in urban areas around Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2011. Above all, remember that it’s best to approach any rodent situation with caution, and start by contacting a professional if you discover a rodent infestation.