The holidays are over, and you’re (slowly) getting back to your normal routine. The holiday decorations have been taken down and your visitors have all gone home. Or have they?

During the holiday hustle, it’s possible a few rodents came inside and made themselves at home while you weren’t looking. And they’re not planning to go anywhere soon!

Winter is a prime time for rodent infestations. Like you, they want to be warm. Plus, food and water are scarce outside. What better place than an occupied home to meet all their needs?!

Your house is particularly attractive if…

• You decorated with berries or nuts during the holidays.
• You keep food around for the winter birds.
• You regularly put a spare dish of pet food outside.
• Your lawn or landscaping offers places for small rodents to hide.
• Your screens, roofs, door jambs or windows have small holes around them.

Rodents know how to find all the vulnerable areas of your home They can sense which places offer a plentiful food supply and have an uncanny knack for finding ways to become comfortable in your residence or business.

Once they’ve gotten inside, rodents prefer to nest in empty places like walls, attics, or storage areas. To avoid detection, they wait until all is quiet before looking around for food.

How do you know if rodents are in your home? Look for the following signs:

• Rustling in walls or ceiling.
• Small black droppings on countertops, in cabinets or on the floor.
• Damage to walls, clothes, cardboard boxes and their contents.
• Wiring that appears to have been chewed.

If you see any of these signs…or if you’ve actually seen the rodents in a room…the time to act is NOW! I can’t overstate the importance of acting quickly. Rodents not only damage your belongings, but they are a hazard to your family’s health and safety. They carry numerous diseases, introduce parasites to your home, and can cause electrical fires.

Many people rely on traps to catch these intruders. However, they are not always effective. Rodents are wily and quick to learn. Traps rarely catch every one of them. Plus, if one manages to escape they will avoid traps in the future.

When dealing with rodents it’s wise to get expert help. Pest control professionals know how to find the invaders, how to get rid of them, and how to keep them from coming back!

Your holiday guests have gone home, and you’re looking to a little uninterrupted rest. Now’s the time to make sure no unwelcome “guests” are lingering inside your home. If you find signs they’re still around, give us a call! We’ll be glad to help resolve your situation!