Rodents in My Insulation?

rat waiting on wooden table

Rodents of any kind cause a mess wherever they go. You know the signs of infestation – piles of droppings and splotches of urine, scratching in your walls or above your head at night. And if you’re here, you probably know that you can call a technician from our team to eradicate a mouse or rat infestation if one were to form in your home. But did you know that there’s more to recovering from rodent swarms than a quick phone call and a simple procedure?

If mice or rats make their way into the insulation in your walls or attic, they can cause a very big and very costly problem. Let’s talk about that more below and see how Florida Pest Control can help.

Why Do Rodents Nest in Insulation?

Rodents, wherever they go, are just looking for a source of food and a place to nest. And homes across Florida have both of that in spades. At the same time, though, they want to be relatively hidden from any human onlookers, which is why they flock to spaces like your attic and the void between walls.

These spaces are likely already insulated, which is just one more appeal for rodents in the home. Insulation – especially fiberglass insulation – is warm and pliable. It’s very easy to gnaw into and eat or tear off to build a nest. As rats and mice do this, they leave gaps in the wall of insulation, as well as droppings that linger long after they’re gone. So how are you supposed to repair this damage?

Insulation Infestations

More bad news: there is little you can do to insulation that has already experienced rodent damage. The only option you really have is to remove and replace, and we do not by any means suggest you do that on your own. Rat and mice droppings can contain traces of Hantavirus, a deadly flu-like disease that will spread into the air if the droppings are mishandled. A professional has the training and equipment to remove infected insulation safely.

In terms of replacement, there is no insulation material that’s entirely rodent-resistant. TAPยฎ insulation, which we offer as a service, contains enough boric acid to kill smaller pests, but may not work on larger mice and rats. The best way to avoid having to pay to recover from rodent infestations is to keep them from starting in the first place.

Avoiding Rodent Nests in Florida

As we speak, there may be vulnerabilities in your home that leave the space open for all manner of pests. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for rodents and other pests to take over before taking action. Florida Pest Control specializes in rodent exclusion, and we can send a technician to your house with the intention of finding and remedying the spots in your home where rats or mice could get in. When we’re done you will no longer have to worry over every scratch or strange smell. Florida Pest Control is here to make your life, and your home, clean and pest-free. To get started, contact us today!

How Quickly Can Mice Breed In Your Home?

A mouse found in Florida - Florida Pest Control

Even here in Florida, winter does eventually roll around. With the drop in temperatures comes an increase in rodent activity in residential areas and around businesses. Like us, mice are just trying to stay warm, and the colder weather outside does not permit them to breed as they wish. Mice look to our homes for shelter, warmth, and breeding sites to continue their rapid proliferation through the winter. If youโ€™re looking to learn more about mouse breeding habits and what you can do to prevent them from taking over your home, read on for advice from the Florida Pest Control technicians!

How Quickly Can Mice Reproduce?

Rodents can turn around new generations much faster than many kinds of animals in Florida, and mice are perhaps the best example of this. Weโ€™ve laid out some information about mice breeding habits that should tell you something about how serious an infestation can become:

  • Female mice can produce up to 10 litters per year and up to 14 pups per litter. With these being extreme examples, the average amount of pups produced by one mother mouse in a year usually sits between 35 and 55.
  • Mother mice have a 25 day gestation period and can mate again right after delivering a litter.
  • Newborn mice are able to breed after just 4-6 weeks of life.

With a little math, you can see these numbers mean that a small mouse infestation can very quickly become an outbreak of hundreds.

How to Stop Mice from Breeding Indoors

It should come as no surprise that the best way to prevent mice from breeding inside your home is to keep them out in the first place. We know that this can be quite difficult, especially in the winter, so we asked our technicians for advice to give to people both who are looking to get preventative and who are already struggling with mouse problems. Hereโ€™s what they said:

  • Keeping mice outside: The best way to keep mice out is to look all around your home for entry points and close them off with a silicone-based caulk or steel wool. These could be gaps in walls, cracks in foundation, broken roof tiling, and more. You can also perform regular yard maintenance and seal your garbage bins to avoid attracting mice with hiding places and food.
  • Getting mice out: Spraying diluted apple cider vinegar or peppermint oil around infested areas has proven successful for some Florida residents. Kitty litter and fabric softener sheets have also worked for some, but we recommend that you consider these as supplemental treatments for use in specific hotspots. If you plan on using mousetraps, make sure you consult a local rodent exterminator for advice on the best trap for your home.

Expert Mice Extermination in Florida

If your DIY mouse control plans arenโ€™t coming to fruition, ask your local pest control company for help. Our Florida Pest Control technicians are trained to look in the places you wouldnโ€™t think to to locate mouse-attracting vulnerabilities, pest access points, droppings and nests, and more, using industry-leading technology and strategies to remove every last mouse from your home. For a free quote or to learn more, contact us today!

Pests on the Rise in Florida This Winter

Norway rat in Florida - Florida Pest Control

Pests can run rampant year-round here in Florida. Unlike regions with seasonal weather that renders many pest infestations nonexistent in the wintertime, we are accustomed to dealing with certain pests even throughout the colder months. In partnership with PestWorld, the NPMA recently released their 2021 Fall & Winter Bug Barometerยฎ predicting the pest trends weโ€™re to expect in our region this winter. Unsurprisingly, rodents have been named the number one concern pest for Florida residents this winter. To keep your home or business safe from rats and mice this winter, the experts are here to share everything you need to know about preventing increased rodent activityโ€”read on to learn more!

Winter Pests in Florida

Although many types of pests go away in the fall and winter, there are a few that stick around. With above-normal rainfall predicted, mosquitoes have lingered well into the fall monthsโ€”which is much longer than usual. The most pressing pest pressures we face this time of year are those pests that look to get inside our homes to escape dropping temperatures outdoors.

In November, you may still be seeing some infamous fall pests inside your home. These include ants, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, and boxelder bugs, all of which look to overwinter until springtime right in the comfort of your property. The most concerning winter pest problem Florida residents face in 2021, however, is a rodent infestation.

NPMA Bug Barometer 2021

Why Rodent Infestations Are Dangerous

Rodents are an increasingly common pest problem for homeowners, especially this time of year. Both rats and mice can squeeze their way inside impossibly small holes to gain access to your basement, attic, or another area. Once indoors, they can wreak havoc. Some of the major dangers of mouse or rat infestations are:

  1. With their ever-growing incisor teeth, rodents are constantly chewing on a number of things in your home, electrical wires included.
  2. To build nests, rodents will tear through materials in your home, including your insulation and cardboard boxes.
  3. Rodents can directly or indirectly transmit some of the most dangerous diseases, from rat-bite fever to hantavirus.
  4. Rodent droppings can contaminate food and create a hazardous environment in your property.

How to Prevent a Rodent Infestation this Winter

With NPMAโ€™s prediction of increased rodent activity this time of year, itโ€™s more important than ever to team up with your local rodent control exterminators. At Florida Pest Control, our experts will work hard to implement the best rodent exclusion tactics to keep rats and mice away for good. Contact us today!

The Dangers of House Mice and Rats

Rat in Florida home - Florida Pest Control

Even if you love visiting Mickey and Minnie in Orlando, odds are youโ€™re not too keen on the idea of mice or rats sharing your home. Many people have an inherent dislike or fear of mice and rats and, considering how dangerous they can be to humans, thatโ€™s understandable. A rat or mouse infestation isn’t only messy, it is hazardous. Rodents can chew on wires, cause a mess with their droppings, and even damage the structure of your business. With rodent infestations on the rise in 2021 and into the next year, it’s important to learn how to prevent these pests in your home. The experts at Florida Pest Control are here to helpโ€”read on to learn about the top threats that rodents pose.

Dangerous Rodents in Florida

Mice, rats, and the parasites that come with them can carry a number of diseases, some of which are potentially deadly to humans, like hantavirus, listeria, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis, and even the bubonic plague. Admittedly, most of these diseases are more common in other parts of the world than they are in Florida, but it should help you understand why people and non-domesticated rodents should maintain separate residences.

Mice and ratsย can also play a large role in contributing to dangerous allergies. A national study detected mouse urine levels that could trigger allergies in 35% of homes. Trace amounts or higher were found in 82% of homes. Mouse droppings are also an allergy issue. There are as many people allergic to mouse droppings as there are to mold and dust. Exposure to mouse allergen is a known cause of asthma in children and adults.

Additionally, rodents eat just about anythingโ€”including items in your home. Their teeth can gnaw through insulation, wallboards, cardboard, even wood. Some are especially fond of electrical wiring and that can lead to real danger. Exposed wires resulting from mice are believed to cause 25% of U.S. house fires!

How to Keep House Mice & Rats Out

If you want to stay safe from the dangers of house mice and rats, it’s important to prevent them in the first place. Once they get indoors, rats and mice are likely to hide away in your attic, kitchen, garage, and other places where they can stay warm and have access to food. Exclusion is the key to getting rid of rat problems for good:

  1. Inspect your property to look for any openings rodents may have snuck through. By sealing these openings and closing up gaps around vents and soffits, you can effectively keep rodents out.
  2. Further rat-proof your property by repairing your roof and monitoring drains. By limiting their access points, you can get rid of the means by which rodents get inside of your property.
  3. Look into traps and baits. If you have just a couple of rodents in your property, you can effectively get rid of them using bait or traps. Keep in mind this is not a strong enough solution to get rid of an entire infestation.
  4. Get professional rodent control services. If you have a serious rodent problem, the best thing you can do is hire a pest control expert. A professional will know to safely and effectively get rid of the pests for good.

Get Rid of Dangerous Rodents For Good

Many people believe if theyโ€™ve never seen a mouse or rat in their home, theyโ€™re not there. Thatโ€™s overly optimistic. Rodents can be quite secretive and live in your home for a long time without you noticing. Even if theyโ€™re not in your home yet, they soon could be.

Florida Pest Control offersย rodent control and exclusion services. Our experts are trained to locate areas of rodent activity and potential rodent entry points. Contact Florida Pest Control today and we will perform a rodent control inspection to ensure you, your family, and your home are protected.