Mice may be cute and cuddly on TV or as a children’s toy, but when they get inside the walls of your business, they are dirty, destructive and downright disgusting.
Rodents typically make their way indoors during cooler weather, seeking warmth and protection. While you might feel bad about turning them out to face the harsh elements, remember that these small creatures not only make annoying scratching sounds inside your walls, but they also chew on electrical wires and spread diseases.
For many people, leaving traps and poison out around the building is the go-to solution. But who wants to find rotting rat carcasses lying around as you’re trying to take your lunch break? There’s got to be a better way. ABC Home & Commercial Services in Dallas is here to help.
Invitations
You may be unintentionally inviting local rodents to take up residence with the following behaviors:
• Rodents don’t have a sophisticated palate. Food is food. Put your trash in an enclosed dumpster or rent a dumpster to keep them out.
• Landscaping looks lovely but can serve as a jumping-off point, literally, for rodents. Trim the trees near your office to limit their access to your roof and attic.
• Look for holes where mice and rats may be crawling into your office. Don’t seal them up immediately, however. Give the rodents a chance to escape so that they don’t die inside your walls. Once your rodent issue has been eradicated, block off all of the holes and entry points.
• Get rid of clutter. Rodents are always looking for a nice place to build a warm, cozy nest. Storage rooms full of supplies are like a cheap motel with a flashing neon sign declaring vacancy and free lodging.
• Examine your attic or crawl space. If your office building has either of these, they need to be thoroughly cleaned out. This is where you may want to seek professional assistance from our rodent control specialists. Rodents carry a host of diseases, so make sure you have proper respiratory protection when entering their domain.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some simple solutions that can help, depending on the severity of your problem:
• Soak cotton balls in a carrier oil, such as a coconut or olive oil, and peppermint extract. Place the cotton balls around all openings to your business. The smell repels rodents without emitting toxic fumes. But beware of candy cane cravings!
• Mothballs will have the same effect as the peppermint scent but are harmful to humans if ingested. Be sure to place them out of reach of children.
• You can place conventional traps around your office, but check them frequently. Nothing smells worse than a rotting rodent.
You might find that tips and tricks such as these, while helpful, likely won’t be enough to deal with an advanced rodent infestation. Are you ready to roll up the welcome mat? Contact ABC Home & Commercial Services in Dallas to get started and send those rodents packing!