Like any living creature, rodents require warmth and shelter during the cold winter months. That’s why rodent infestations increase during the winter as the nuisance critters attempt to get into homes to avoid the elements. While the spirit of the winter season can inspire a sense of welcoming generosity, rodents are not the type of houseguests you’d want to invite into your home. Here’s what you can expect if rodents come indoors during winter.
Be it rats, mice, or squirrels, each species of rodent will do what it takes to survive in the winter.
Sizable mammals that can grow up to nine inches long, rats retreat indoors not only to escape the colder outdoor weather, but to nest and breed. While rats do not hibernate during the winter, their breeding does slow. Rats prefer to nest inside cardboard boxes and the fluffy, pink insulation found in attics. Rats tend to use the ventilation ducts of a home to spread their infestation and the deadly diseases they are known to carry like hantavirus and leptospirosis. Popular rat entry points include attics, chimneys, plumbing pipes, and foundation cracks. And it may be hard to believe, but rats can access a home through a hole the size of a quarter.
Tiny rodents, mice like to build nests in warm areas of the home that are close to food and water sources like kitchen pantries and cupboards where they can easily access and contaminate food. To get out of the cold, mice have been known to chew through drywall and piping, and squeeze through holes as wide as a pencil eraser. Mice also do not hibernate but do remain active throughout the year.
The fuzzy rodents are known to spend the fall months gathering supplies and burying acorns, nuts, and other extra food to eat during winter. Their stockpile of stored food helps them survive the cold season. Squirrels also adapt to the cold by storing fat and thickening their fur coats.
If you notice rodent activity in your home or business, rely on rodent control professionals to evict your uninvited winter pests.
The experts at Critter Control® of Orlando are licensed and trained in proper rodent removal and exclusion techniques. Not only will our technicians permanently remove any rodents from your property, but they will also clean up and fix any damage the pests caused. To schedule a home inspection and receive a free rodent removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.