Community Corner
How to Prevent Rodents From Invading Your Home
Springfield offers suggestions on how to avoid an infestation.
Not only can rodents cause damage to homes and food supplies, but they can also be responsible for spreading diseases.
Springfield Township has offered some suggestions, gathered from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control, to aid in preventing rodents from becoming a problem and potential health hazard.
The first step is identifying signs of a possible infestation:
- Notice rodent droppings near food, in drawers, or under the sink
- Find nesting material like shredded paper or plant matter
- Notice gnawing on food packages
- Find holes or entry ways into the home– rat burrows are holes in the soil approximately the size of a baseball
The following preventative measures should be taken when possible:
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Make sure all garbage is sealed properly without any spillage or overloading
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Seal openings where entry points for rodents may be located – under porches, for example
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Keep grass short and remove weeds
Avoid throwing bird food or scraps of crackers, bread, etc. outside
Keep bird feeders away from the house
Clean animal feces regularly
Store food in proper containers with tight lids
Keep compost bins (for leaves, grass and garden material) away from the house and elevate any woodpiles at least 1 foot above the ground
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