As cooler weather approaches, humans aren’t the only ones who want to come in from the cold. Rats and mice also prefer warmth over the cold. So, now is the time to take steps to prevent these vectors of disease from invading your cozy home.
If you live in Contra Costa County and suspect you have rat or mouse activity on your property, you can request the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District’s (District) rat and mouse service. During the service, one of the District’s state-certified technicians will take a look at the front and back yards to see if there is any evidence of rat and mouse activity. The District technician can also check for evidence in the garage as long as the large garage door is open. In addition to looking for evidence of rats and mice, the technician will also observe any items that might attract rats and mice to the property.
Rats and mice are attracted to a property by things that can provide food and/or shelter. Pet food left outside, fallen fruit or nuts from trees, bird seeds, and any snails in the yard can all provide rats and mice with sources of food. Dense vegetation and clutter, including ivy, wood piles, and debris piles, can all provide shelter to rats and mice, and trees or bushes that hang over or touch a home’s roof can allow them to access the interior of homes and garages through holes or spaces as small as the size of a pencil eraser…