Southern California Mice & Rat Tips

Ventilation Is Important

If you own a building, keep in mind that it is important for the inside of your property to receive the necessary amount of fresh air. This includes workplaces. Even if there isn’t an efficiency problem leading a musty smell and of fumes, and fresh air does little to prevent mold and symptoms of a malfunctioning HVAC system, it is important to keep airflow at a good rate to keep away pests such as rats. There should be proper ventilation in place within the kitchen of your building due to the amount of heat, food, and moisture that can build up in said area. Never neglect the importance of air circulation within your property.

How to Keep Rats From Invading Your Restaurant Kitchen

Seeing a rat in your restaurant kitchen can be extremely traumatic. It is important to keep in mind, however, that rats are always on the lookout for new food sources. They are likely attracted to your kitchen because they have quick access to the remnants of food thrown away by cooks who are rushing to wrap up their dish. Although the sight of a rat running past any establishment’s kitchen space is never a pleasant experience, dispose of all food waste in a suitable location after each shift and mop the floors thoroughly. The rodents won’t be able to find what they’re looking for and you will have peace of mind.

How to Avoid a Rodent Infestation This Holiday Season

The holidays a time of giving and cheer can be overshadowed, for homeowners, business owners, friends and family alike by a rodent infestation. In the free time that they have, people are more likely to participate in holiday baking, gift wrapping, and gift-giving. Unfortunately, these activities involve the use of a number of items and the presence of various pleasant smells that can bring nearby rodents into your home, business, even your place of work. Learn how to avoid a rodent infestation this holiday season to ensure that you and everyone you care about has the very best time possible.

1. Practice clean and neat habits. Mice, in particular, are adapting to man-made conditions and can be active year-round. Additionally, populations of mice can be high in and around houses, the fastest method to help prevent an infestation is through diligent sanitation and mouse-proof construction. To prevent mice from moving into your house:
   • Seal cracks and openings in foundations, doors, windows, and vents. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel.
   • Store firewood at least 100 feet from your house and keep shrubbery trimmed!
   • Mice are capable of gnawing through a variety of materials, including plastic and lead pipes. Old scrap metal, bins full of trash, and construction debris should be removed to minimize the rodent potential for harborage.
   • If you see a mouse, you can usually be sure that there are more mice somewhere nearby. Still, it is important to understand that even if there is the active population of mice inhabiting your house, they can still be animals living outside. Generally speaking, if you scare or encounter a mouse directly, but don’t find any signs of infestation, your best course of action is to keep an ear out for signs of infestation, and keep your eye out for more mice as they go unfortunately running across your floor!
2. Block any possible points of access: Mice have the ability to enter homes and buildings through openings larger than 1 cm wide. To prevent them from entering, look for all possible entry points and seal or plug them. This includes vents, cracks in foundations or walls, and entry points around utilities and cables entering the home, between roof and gutter, and beneath skirting boards and window sills. Mice and other rats only need a small gap to enter your home or business, and something as small as 12mm in diameter could be the source of an infestation.
3. Don’t let piles of wood sit in your yard: Not only do piles of wood provide an ideal hiding place for mice and other rodents, but the wood can also rot and create a damp environment which will be an oasis for insects. Soil should also be removed from the yard to remove another rodent habitat.
4. Tidy up your landscape: Tidy up the landscape around your house by removing debris that could potentially serve as a hiding spot for rodents. It is best to do this in late spring when rodents are more active and will be busy searching for food and nesting material. Prolonged stateliness can create an environment suited especially for rodent burrows. Mulch your garden beds with less than 5 cm of mulch as rodents will be able to burrow through the top layer of soil easier than if you had deeper mulch.