Rodents are often found in urban and suburban areas, but they can also be found in rural areas where there are plenty of natural resources to support them.
Rodents come out at night to look for food and water, so you may find signs of their presence by looking for droppings or tracks during the day.
They use burrows to live in, which can be dug in the ground or trees. Some rodents, like squirrels, also build nests out of leaves and other materials.
When most people think of rodents, they think of the ones that live in the city. Rats and mice are common sights in urban areas, where they have learned to thrive among humans.
However, these creatures can also be found in rural areas, where they rely on natural resources to survive.
Rodents are the quintessential nuisance. They carry diseases and can be a serious threat to both people and pets.
Rats and mice can be a nuisance when they take up residence in your yard. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also damage plants and trees, and spread diseases to both people and pets.
There are a few things you can do to discourage rodents from making your yard their home, including eliminating food and water sources, sealing all entry points, and keeping your house clean.
How do rodents get into your yard?
Rodents can get into your yard in a few different ways:
- Through cracks and holes in the foundation of your house.
- They can also climb up trees and enter your home through the roof or attic.
- Rodents can get into your yard by coming along with you when you bring in firewood or other materials from the forest.
- Rats and mice may climb up trees and vines to reach the upper levels of your property.
- They can also jump or climb over fences.
Why do rodents enter your yard?
There are a few reasons why rodents may enter your yard.
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Food:
Rats and mice are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and meat. They need a lot of protein to survive, so they may search for food in your yard.
You should consider placing bird feed in your yard, as it is a potential food source for rats and mice.
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Water:
Water is another important resource for rodents. They need a lot of water to survive, and they can find it in your yard by looking for sources like gutters, leaky faucets, or puddles. They may also chew through pipes or hoses to get to the water.
It is important to eliminate or minimize water sources in your garden if you want to prevent rodents from establishing themselves there.
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Shelter:
If you have a yard, likely, you’ll also have rats and mice. These creatures are attracted to the warmth and shelter that your yard provides, and they’ll often make themselves at home there.
What are the most common places where rodents invade your yard?
Check the following parts of the garden for rodent infestations:
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Compost piles:
They’ll be easy to see, especially if you dig into the pile and disturb their nests. Rodents are a common nuisance in compost piles.
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Sheds:
Check your backyard for signs that something has been digging underneath it. Rats and gophers can tunnel under sheds and make a home for themselves.
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Garbage bins:
Look for droppings and gnaw marks on your rubbish and recycling bins if you store them outside, as this is a solid sign that rats are there.
You should inspect these containers for holes regularly, and you may wish to switch from plastic to metal cans.
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Piles of wood:
Rodents find outside wood heaps to be attractive places to make nests. If you have a woodpile in your yard, you may have unintentionally created a rat hostel. It should be restocked regularly.
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Feeders for birds:
Birds might lure rodents into the garden by dropping seeds from feeders. Many rodents are attracted to bird seed stored in garden sheds or garages.
Always keep birdseed in a metal, galvanized container that is well sealed.
How do you know if rodents are making a home in your yard?
If you have rodents in your yard, there are a few signs you can look for to determine whether they are living there full-time:
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You’ve noticed them:
Rats frequently roam on top of power lines, especially at dawn and dusk, in addition to activities in your yard and garden.
Rats and mice can be found along fences and trees, so keep an eye out.
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Plants that vanish overnight:
New plantings, seedlings, and sprouts frequently vanish without a trace overnight. Some look to be being dragged beneath the surface from below.
Plants are chewed from above by deer and rabbits, who often pull them out of the ground and leave roots behind.
Plants are often disturbed from below by rats, mice, and gophers, who pull at the roots or gnaw at them.
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Tunnels:
Rats, mice, and other rodents often create tunnels in the ground, with a small entrance and exit connecting them. Rats and mice create a small, not-so-obvious mound of dirt.
Rodents can kill plants simply by going through these tunnels, which serve as superhighways for them.
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Burrows:
Mice and rats build soil mounds to mark the entrance to their burrows.
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Droppings:
One of the most obvious signs is the presence of droppings, which will be small and black if they are from rats, and larger and brown if they are from mice.
How do you keep rodents out of your yard?
There are a few ways to keep rodents out of your yard:
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Clean your yard constantly:
Mice and rats love to hide in locations like wood piles, long grass, and piles of fallen leaves.
Keep up with yard care by trimming your grass and pulling any long weeds on a regular basis.
Remove any wood and foliage heaps that could be used as hiding places. If you compost, store the materials in a sealed container as far away from your home as feasible.
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Remove their food sources:
If your bird feeders are luring rats into your garden, you may need to remove them for a few weeks, just long enough for the rodents to realize their free lunch is over.
Fill your bird feeder carefully and store bird seed in tight metal bins that rats cannot chew through to avoid spills.
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Fill in the gaps:
Mice and rats can fit through a hole as small as a dime.
To prevent mice and other rodents from finding a pleasant place to overwinter, plug any entrances inside sheds or outbuildings. Wood or metal can be used to plug holes.
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Arrange for baited traps to be set.
Baited snap traps can be placed in areas where mice are known to congregate. Mice will usually run close to the walls and will not venture more than 5 to 10 feet into the open area to retrieve the bait.
Set traps strategically around the perimeter of your property, away from areas where your pets and/or youngsters could accidentally set them off.
While there are a number of reasons why rodents might enter your yard, the most common one is that they’re looking for food. If you have a lot of trees and bushes in your yard, or if you leave pet food or bird feeders out, then you’re likely to see more rodents around.
There are a number of things that you can do to discourage rodents from entering your yard. One of the most effective is to make sure that all of your food is stored in airtight containers. You can also install fences or barriers around your property, or use traps and deterrents to keep rodents away.
However, if you are unable to eliminate these rodents from your yard, you should call exterminators to deal with the rat and mouse infestation safely and quickly.
Rodent Exterminator has the best professionals in all of Los Angeles, assisting with a wide variety of services for you. We guarantee the best results and a rodent-free home. Call us! 213-431-0890
