What are the best ways to keep rats away from my home?

Rats are household pests that terrorize many homeowners in Southwest Florida. If rats find an opening to invade your home, these large rodents can quickly inflict severe damage by gnawing through insulation, wires, and wood. Rats can also be destructive to lawns and gardens.

If you want to keep rats away from your home in Southwest Florida, follow these tips:

• Seal every possible rat entry point. Despite their startling size, rats can squeeze through gaps as small as half an inch. Inspect the exterior of your home for openings that may give rats access. Seal any such holes with a combination of metal mesh and caulk to prevent rats from chewing their way in.

• Make food sources inaccessible to rats. Outside, rats love to raid garbage cans and bird feeders. If they get inside, rats may feast on kitchen scraps and stored food in pantries. Make sure any outdoor trash cans have tight lids to keep rodents out. If you’ve seen evidence of an indoor rat infestation, secure your food in airtight containers.

• Remove potential rat shelters from your yard. Rats in Southwest Florida often build nests near our homes, drawn by dense vegetation and piles of wood. Trim trees, bushes, and vines back from your home to keep rats from nesting under them or using them to access your roof. If you keep a pile of firewood in your yard, store it off the ground and away from the perimeter of your home to prevent rats from nesting beneath it.
• Work with a professional rodent control company in Southwest Florida. Licensed and insured rat removal experts know the most effective ways to exclude rats from your property and get rid of any existing rat infestations. Contact Blue Sky Solutions today if you’re in need of rat control services for your home in the Fort Myers-Naples area.