Have you noticed dark, tapered droppings in or around your home or chew marks on your stored items?
If so, you might have a rodent issue, which means you need to act fast to keep the situation from getting out of control.
At Smith’s Pest Management, we’ve been helping California customers control pests for over 20 years and have collected our top tips in this blog.
Key Takeaways
- To prevent indoor rodent issues, keep your home clean, repair all plumbing leaks, properly dispose of food waste, and seal even tiny entry points around your home.
- To prevent rodent issues outside, keep your outdoor spaces clean, secure your outdoor trash cans, store firewood properly, and keep your compost in lidded bins.
- If your rodent problems are persistent or severe, contact Smith’s Pest Management for a professional inspection and a free quote: (408) 871-6988.
Why are Rodents so Common in Berkeley, CA?
While there are many different rodents in the Berkeley area, the most common are mice, roof rats, and Norway rats.
Indoor Rodent Control Tips
1. Keep Your Home Clean
- Keep pet food and pantry items in chew-proof, airtight containers.
- Use sealable bins to contain items you’re storing in places like attics, basements, and garages.
- Clean and declutter your home to get rid of potential nesting sites.
2. Fix Plumbing Leaks
- Check your pipes and fixtures for leaks and repair or replace them as soon as you notice an issue.
- To eliminate water sources for rodents, make sure the areas under your sinks and around appliances are dry and leak-free.
3. Dispose of Food Waste Properly
- Use lidded trash cans indoors to keep your trash safe from pests.
- Take out indoor trash nightly to avoid attracting rodents.
- Clean up spills and crumbs as quickly as possible to minimize food sources.
4. Seal Entry Points
- Inspect the exterior of your home for gaps, cracks, and openings (pay special attention to the areas around utility and plumbing lines).
- Seal any gap the size of a quarter or larger with steel mesh and mortar.
- Check and secure vents, windows, and doors to prevent rodents from entering.
Outdoor Rodent Control Tips
1. Keep Your Outdoor Spaces Clean
- Trim shrubs, bushes, and branches to keep them away from your home’s siding and remove natural ladders or bridges rodents could use to enter.
- Get rid of debris, leaves, and other yard waste to limit possible hiding places for rodents.
- Keep your grass cut short to minimize shelter where rats, mice, and other critters could hide.
2. Secure Outdoor Garbage
- Use garbage bins with tight-fitting lids to store your outdoor trash.
- Don’t leave garbage bags outside the trash can.
- Avoid overfilling outdoor garbage bins.
3. Store Firewood Correctly
- Keep firewood piles at least 20 feet away from your house.
- Stack firewood on a pallet or frame to get it up and off the ground.
- Regularly burn or dispose of brush piles and other outdoor waste to limit nesting sites.
4. Keep Compost in Bins
- Use compost bins with secure, tight-fitting lids to keep pests out.
- Avoid adding meat or dairy to your compost pile since they attract rodents.
- Regularly turn your compost to reduce smells and speed up the decomposition process.
When to Call Smith’s Pest Management
If you have stubborn, severe, or confusing rodent issues that you need help solving, call Smith’s Pest Management.
Our team of pest control experts has the tools and experience to handle even complex or widespread rodent problems and keep your family (and your property) safe, healthy, and pest-free.
Here are a few signs that it may be time to call a professional:
- You’ve noticed lots of rodent droppings in your indoor or outdoor areas.
- There are chew marks on furniture, wires, or stored items.
- You’re hearing unsettling scurrying sounds in your walls or ceilings at night.
- Your space suddenly has a strong, unpleasant, musky odor (this usually indicates the presence of a large rodent infestation).
When you contact our team for help with your rodent problems, we’ll inspect your space and identify the source of the issue.
Next, we’ll combine effective tactics like trapping, exclusion, and baits to eliminate existing pests and prevent their return.
Don’t Let Rodent Damage Get You Down – Smith’s Pest Management can Help!
Pests like rats and mice are more than just a nuisance – they can also damage your space and even spread diseases that can make your pets and your family sick.
Fortunately, you don’t have to live with them forever.
Call us today at (408) 871-6988 to learn more about our Berkeley pest management services or request your free quote.
FAQs
How can I tell if I have a rodent problem?
Look for signs like droppings in your kitchen cabinets, along baseboards, or in pantries.
You may also notice chew marks on food packages, furniture, and wires or noises like scurrying or scratching in the walls or ceiling, especially at night.
Last but not least, you may see live or dead rodents in your space, which is a sign that it’s time to act fast to get the infestation under control.
How do I deal with rodents in my Berkeley home?
Your first step should always be to seal gaps and cracks around doors, windows, and pipes to keep rodents out.
Next, set traps indoors (check out our guide for more tips), secure trash bins, remove food sources, and clean up any existing rodent nests you’ve found.
If the issue doesn’t get better after these steps, call in the pros for expert help solving the problem.
Are there eco-friendly rodent control options in Berkeley?
Yes – there are many eco-friendly ways to control rodents in the Berkeley area.
To avoid poisonous baits, you can try natural repellents or rely on integrated pest management (IPM) tactics, which take a holistic approach to limiting rodent populations.
