Fall Rodent Season in Northern Virginia
Fall is known as rodent season in Northern Virginia because it’s around this time of year when rat and mice activity begin ramping up, as these destructive pests seek shelter inside your home for the coming winter. Rats especially are dependent on humans, and will seek the warmth and food inside your home as the temperatures drop throughout the fall. If you are noticing rodents inside your home this winter, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions today to get started with a highly effective rodent control program.
Why Rodents Invade Homes in the Fall
As the temperatures drop during the fall, food becomes scarce, and warmth becomes a necessity. Mice and especially rats are dependent for survival on the shelter and food provided by homes and businesses, and will begin searching for ways to get inside during the fall. Many homes in Northern Virginia are in close proximity to wooded areas, which can put these homes at risk of being invaded by rodents. Rats and mice don’t need much to get inside your home, all it can take is a crack or gap around your attic, crawl space, or basement, and they can wriggle through into your living space.
Signs of a Rodent Infestation
When rats and mice begin living inside your home, you might notice small droppings inside your kitchen, pantry, or basement. Rodents need to be constantly chewing in order to keep the length of their teeth manageable, so you might see gnaw marks on wires, wood, or food packaging. Scratching, scurrying, or scampering sounds at night can indicate that you have rodents living in your home. Finally, finding nests made out of shredded insulation or paper materials in your attic space are a telltale sign of mice and rats.
Risks Rodents Bring to Your Home and Family
- Health risks: mice and rats can spread hantavirus, tularemia, salmonella, and parasites like ticks and fleas.
- Property damage: mice and rats can create fire hazards by chewing through wires, and they can soil your insulation and contaminate your food.
- Mice and rats breed extremely quickly, and can spiral out of control into a massive infestation if left untreated.
Prevention Tips for Homeowners
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to prevent infestations of mice and rats from taking hold on your property in Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax. Seal all cracks and gaps in your home, even utility line openings, as rodents can turn anything into an entry point. Make sure you store your food in sealed, hard plastic containers that rodent teeth can’t chew through. Keep target areas like basements, crawl spaces, and attics dry and free of clutter. Trimming vegetation and removing firewood or other outdoor debris piles near your foundation can reduce cover for mice, making your property feel less safe to them. Finally, having a proper crawl space encapsulation done can ensure that rodents are kept out of your home.
When DIY Isn’t Enough
Unfortunately most over-the-counter pesticides or repellents are not broadly effective, or may only work for a short time before the rats and mice develop a resistance. Additionally, if not all the entry points are located and sealed, then your home is left vulnerable to reinfestation. When dealing with pests as clever as rodents, you must address the root causes before any progress can be made.
How SES Can Help
The best way to deal with a rodent infestation on your property in Alexandria, Arlington, or Fairfax is to contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions for effective mice and rat control services. Our team will utilize a combination of techniques and pesticides that attack rodents at every stage of the life cycle, ensuring no population rebounds or immunity is achieved. We also perform exclusion work to make sure that all of their entry points are sealed off and fortified. Our attic insulation, crawl space encapsulation, and basement waterproofing services can also assist in making your home less profitable for mice and rats.
When it comes to keeping your home protected from mice and rat infestations, early fall is the critical time to act. The temperatures have begun to cool, and rodents will be searching for a safe, warm home filled with food to spend the winter. Don’t let it be yours. If you’ve noticed signs of rodents in your home, call Summit Environmental Solutions at 703-520-5868 for a free inspection and customized prevention plan.
