If you haven't heard by now Atlanta has gotten over 10" inches of rain over the last few days. Just in case you're wondering, an inch of rain in a 1000 Sq Ft. area = a little over 631 gal. of water. Needless to say we have had a lot of water rolling around us. We have seen devistation, and even live's have been claimed because of the recent natural disaster. But something we can overlook is Pests.
Pests are a common problem after a flood, because it displaces many rodents from their natural habitat. As a result, these
animals are seeking areas that can provide food and shelter, such as
homes, sheds, barns and other buildings.
Structures damaged by the floods are particularly attractive and
provide easy access torodents. The unwelcome pests can damage property
and, in extreme cases, pose a potential health problem.
Rats and mice
- As soon as possible, remove all debris that could provide protective cover for rodents from around homes and buildings.
- Keep lawn and field vegetation mowed low to eliminate protective cover.
- Remove potential food sources, such as household trash, waste grain or other foods.
- Close openings into buildings, such as around water pipes, electrical wires, vents and doors, with 1/8-inch mesh hardware cloth or sheet metal.
Squirrels
- Trim trees to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs.
- Prevent squirrels from traveling along wires to houses and buildings by installing 2-foot sections of lightweight plastic pipe 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Slit pipe lengthwise, spread open and place over wire. The pipe will rotate on the wire and cause traveling squirrels to fall.
- Close openings to attics and eaves with heavy 1/2-inch wire mesh or sheet metal.
- In closed attics, naphthalene (mothballs) may work as a temporary repellent. Use 1 to 2 pounds spread evenly throughout the attic; greater amounts may be needed for large spaces.
If you have a serious problem please contact a profesional.
Sometimes people don't understand what pest prevention is. More often than not a lot of "Pest Control" services are just that, they control the problem. Not really identifying what the problem or infestation is or where it originated. Pest infestations come in many shapes and forms including rodents,
bats, ants, wasps, fleas, and so many more. Any type of pest
infestation is an irritation that all of us could live without and by
using some simple techniques you can highly reduce your chances of ever
having an infestation problem again. Pest invasions can result in a
large expense in both time and money and preventing infestations should
be on the mind of any responsible home owner. The following techniques
are based around the principle of removing the breeding grounds of
these creatures and making your home as unfriendly towards them as
possible.
Fortify your Home
Taking the proper steps to
fortify your home is a crucial step to infestation prevention as it is
almost impossible for your home to become infested by any creature if
they cannot gain access to your home. You can help hinder the efforts
of the pests by patching any holes in the walls, repair window sills,
screens, and securing any vents in your foundations. You should also
ensure that any cabinets or cupboards that contain food sources should
be secured and that not cracks are present. By taking these steps any
pesky invaders will find it almost impossible to gain access to your
home.
Remove the Temptation
If you take the time to ensure
your home is a hostile environment for the majority of these pesky
invaders you will be much less likely to ever encounter them. The first
step to this is to ensure there is nothing to attract these creatures
into your home. By removing food scraps, doing dishes, and taking out
the garbage often will diminish the possible food sources in your home
and make any infestation less likely to be successful. Cleaning your
kitchen and any other eating areas often will also reduce potential
food odors that can attract unwanted visitors.
Living Conditions
Most
of the pests in our world prefer specific living conditions for
breeding when they infest a home. Damp, dark, and moist areas are an
ideal breeding ground for these creatures to reproduce at an alarming
rate. Fixing leaky taps, sealing pipe holes, and cleaning up any spilt
water quickly can greatly reduce your chances of getting an
infestation. You should pay special attention to areas that are near
the bottom of the wall where the foundation and the walls meet as this
is the area where most of the invaders are likely to enter the home.