| It's that time of year where rats and mice | | | | impossible for them to enter your home. That |
| are apt to enter our homes. Lets talk a bit | | | | can be difficult with mice because they can |
| about their abilities and senses first.Rats | | | | pass through an opening only 3/8 inch thick. |
| and mice cannot see very good beyond 3 or 4 | | | | In general, all openings greater than 1/4 |
| feet but have a very good sense of motion up | | | | inch thick should be sealed for mice and all |
| to 30 to 50 feet away and for the most part | | | | openings greater than 1/2 inch should be |
| they are color blind. Rodents are most active | | | | sealed for rats.Check all openings around |
| at night.These rodents have a very good sense | | | | utility lines that enter your home, around |
| of taste so baits may be rejected by them if | | | | service conduits such as water pipes, |
| they are contaminated with insecticides or | | | | electric wires, air-conditioning units, drain |
| odors from other chemicals. Even touching | | | | pipes and vents should all be sealed. Also |
| baits after smoking a cigarette will make | | | | check for broken windows and unscreened |
| these rodents to shy away from the baits.Rats | | | | vents. Vents should be covered with metal |
| and mice also have a good sense of smell. | | | | grillwork backed by rust-resistant screening. |
| They mark pathways with urine and use their | | | | Roofs should be checked to see that shingles |
| sense of smell to recognize the odors of the | | | | are down tight and sheathing is complete. |
| pathway to and from food sources.Their | | | | Check roof ventilators, screen vents and in |
| hearing is much better than humans and make | | | | wall vents.Make sure you check under sinks |
| noises in various situations such as | | | | where pipes enter the wall. This is a great |
| mating.Rodents have a highly developed sense | | | | area for mice and rats to enter your home or |
| of touch due to their sensitive body hairs. | | | | business.Copper mesh stuffing, course steel |
| They rely heavily on touch and smell to guide | | | | wool, sheet metal, hardware cloth and mortar |
| them through movements. The territories of | | | | can be used to seal the spaces around these |
| most rats are between 50 and 150 feet from | | | | areas. Just use your imagination.These are |
| the nest. For mice the average territories | | | | not all areas that mice and rats can enter |
| within buildings are between 10 and 30 | | | | your home. Its impossible for me to think of |
| feet.Rodent Proofing Your HomeThe best way to | | | | everywhere. Like I said, just use your |
| control mice and rats is to make it | | | | imagination. |