Longview, Texas, is a small east Texas city that offers people big attractions. The friendly folks around this community host RV and boat shows, the Great Balloon Race, antique shows, and entertaining musical performances for all. One furry group of locals living in the area that often gravitate to big attractions in area homes is rodents. Without Longview pest control, their presence in homes can pose a two-fold threat to homes.
Types Of Rodents That Commonly Invade Longview Homes
Rodents abound in every state across America. As humans continue to spread out, build homes, and settle into rodent habitats, encounters with rodents in Longview will increase. One house guest who frequently enters homes is a little rodent called a house mouse. On the small side, its rounded body measures 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches long with a tail that adds four more inches. They have grayish fur, creamy underbelly, pointy noses, large ears, and small black eyes. Another visitor to Longview homes is the roof rat. Roof rats are long (16 inches) and sleek, and slender. Their fur is brown with patches of black peppered throughout; their underbellies range from white to gray to black, and they have pointy noses and sizeable eyes and ears. The Norway rat is another common house invader; it has wiry brown hair (with some scattered black hairs) and hefty bodies that measure 7 to 9 1/2 inches long. Their underbellies are typically off-white to gray; they have blunted noses, small ears, and small eyes. Even though common rodent home invaders have some distinct differences, they all have one thing in common; they can make people sick and damage properties.
Rodents Can Make You Sick And Damage Property
Rodents are two-fold troublemakers. When they live in homes, damages to your property and health can pile up. Rodents are gnawers, which means they constantly chew on things. They will wear their teeth down by chewing on things like wood, drywall, walls, and electrical wires (fire hazard). When they search for nesting places within walls or attics, they often soil and shred stored items or insulation.
In addition to property damage, rodents are contaminators and disease transmitters. People don't need to touch rodents or their feces to get sick. Rodent urine, feces, and saliva contaminate surfaces and sicken people with bacteria that can cause diseases like salmonellosis, jaundice, trichinosis, cowpox virus, tularemia, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). The air in homes can also get contaminated and cause people with allergies and asthma to have their conditions inflamed. Because having rodents inside can lead to the destruction of property and health complications, homeowners need to call in the experts at Gecko Pest Control for rodent control.
Five Easy Yet Effective Rodent Exclusion Tips For Around The House
Rodents have a knack for finding even the most minor holes, gaps, or crevices and exploiting them for easy access to homes. Homeowners that set up some easy exclusion measures around their property can help deter rodents from visiting their homes.
Five simple and effective Longview rodent exclusion tips include:
- Use dehumidifiers in moisture-prone areas like crawl spaces, attics, and basements.
- Place screens on openings of chimneys/vents.
- Use silicone-based caulking or steel wool in holes where pipes and utilities enter homes.
- Ensure tight seals around basement windows with weatherstripping.
- Ensure screens are in good repair; install door sweeps on external doors.
Applying various prevention measures around your property can deter inquisitive rodents from entering Longview homes, but these tips don't always guarantee exclusion. When rodents break through your barriers, it's time to use Gecko Pest Control for pest and rodent control near you.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Rodents And Keep Them Out
Ultimately, the best way to get rid of rodents in Longview is with help from Gecko Pest Control. Our local family-owned and operated company provides 20+ years of professional pest control services with a personal touch. "The Gecko Experience" means your satisfaction is our top priority, so don't wait. Call Gecko Pest Control today to get rid of rodents, and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Longview.