Prevention Tips for Fall Rodent Infestations

Rodents get inside Baton Rouge LA homes in the fall - Dugas Pest ControlPest problems are notorious in the fall months, especially rodent problems. Rats and mice are known to enter homes through the tiniest of openings. Once inside, they will gladly burrow in the attic, basement, walls, and other areas of the home. Because rodents can contaminate surfaces, spread germs, and cause structural damage, it’s extremely important to learn how to keep rats and mice away. Here at Dugas Pest Control, we want you to feel comfortable in your home without worrying about rodents. We’ve gathered our top prevention tips for fall rodent infestations–read on to learn more!

Our Top Rodent Prevention Tips

No one wants to deal with rodents in their home. Some of our top tips to keep them out and away from your home in Baton Rouge include:

  1. Get rid of excess moisture. Fix leaking pipes and clogged drains.
  2. Store firewood away from your home. Piles of lumber will surely attract rodents and other pests to get close to your house.
  3. Store food properly. Securely store food in tight-fitting containers with lids.
  4. Keep a tidy yard. Cut back any tree limbs or vines that are attached to or near the home.
  5. Seal holes around pipes. Use caulk or wire wool to cover up gaps and openings near pipes and other openings.
  6. Cover vents. Install mesh screens on your vents. Also, consider installing screens on doors and windows.
  7. Use tight lids on trash cans. Rodents love to rummage in the garbage! If possible, keep your trash cans sealed and stored.
  8. Protect eaves. Fix any damaged roofing and use wire mesh to seal gaps in your eaves.

Dangers of Seasonal Rats and Mice

Rats and mice can be a nuisance at any time of the year. However, they often come inside more and more often when the temperatures drop, making them particularly troublesome in the autumn and winter months. Once they get indoors, rats and mice will take shelter in attics, basements, kitchens, and garages. A rat or mouse problem often begins when the rodents get in through your chimney, pipes, air vents, and more. In addition to contaminating surfaces and spreading germs, rodents can chew through materials with their ever-growing teeth and cause serious damage inside.

Fall Rodent Infestations in Baton Rouge

No one wants to deal with rats or mice in their property on their own. If you have an infestation in your Louisiana home or want to prevent one altogether, it’s important to call our team of rodent exterminators. The experts at Dugas will customize a rodent control plan suited to the unique needs of your home.

Is Fall the Season of Spiders?

Dangerous spiders in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlAlthough spiders are a common pest year-round, many people consider fall to be the season of spiders because of how abundant they seem. Spiders hatch in the springtime—by the time August and September roll around, they’re definitely in full force. These eight-legged creatures are attracted to food, water, and shelter that your home provides them with. Thankfully, most of the spiders in your home are harmless and will, for the most part, avoid you altogether! That said, there are two spiders in particular that you should keep an eye out for: the black widow and the brown recluse spider. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about spiders during the fall months here in Baton Rouge.

Black Widow vs Brown Recluse Infographic - Dugas Pest Control in Baton Rouge LA Identifying Black Widows and Brown Recluse Spiders

It can be difficult to differentiate between your common house spider and the more dangerous black widow or brown recluse. Because these two spiders can bite and potentially cause dangerous side effects, it’s important to know how to differentiate them: 

  • Black widows
    • These spiders have a characteristic red hourglass shape on its body.
    • They build sticky, tangled cobwebs in garages, sheds, and near the ground.
    • They can bite when they feel threatened.
  • Brown recluse spiders
    • Brown recluse spiders have a darker brown violin-shaped spot on their bodies.
    • They build loose, dome-shaped webs for shelter.
    • A brown recluse bite is known to be very painful.

Preventing Spiders During the Fall

To keep spiders out, there are several ways you can make your property less attractive to her in general. Our top spider prevention tips include:

  1. Maintain your yard and lawn. Overgrown bushes, shrubs, piles of wood, and more can attract spiders to your property and eventually indoors.
  2. Regularly clean your home. Doing so can prevent insects that spiders like to prey on and eliminate hiding spots for pests.
  3. Seal any cracks and crevices. Inspect the inside and outside of your property for tiny spots that may be inviting spiders in, and seal properly.
  4. Install or repair screens on doors and windows. Tight-fitting screens are the key to keeping insects, spiders included, out.
  5. Inspect items before bringing them indoors. Egg sacs and adult spiders are known to be inside old boxes you may be transferring.

What to Do When You Have Spiders

We all know that seeing the occasional spider in your property is completely normal. But what do you do when you’ve spotted a dangerous species or are dealing with endless webs? It’s likely time to call your local spider exterminators here at Dugas. Our spider pest control experts can control current infestations and make sure you don’t have to deal with spiders in the future!