As a homeowner, you’re fully justified in taking all reasonable preemptive measures to guard your home. Pest intrusions have become commonplace in Dubai nowadays, particularly for rodents. Rodents are a category of animals that includes rats, mice, and squirrels. Among them, rats and mice are considered the most dangerous and have been frowned upon ever since the bubonic plague.
A common household pest, rodents not only are a health concern but also pose a serious threat to the structural integrity of buildings.
If you are somebody with a rodent infestation in your home, then you are at high risk of:
- Catching diseases ranging from Weil’s disease, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, plague, salmonella, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- Causing damage to your property
- Short circuits and fire outbreaks
Rodents enter your premises basically for food and shelter. If they are able to lay hands on these two things, they will never leave your place unless you get a professional to deal with the problem.
Therefore, the golden rule to follow here is “prevention is better than cure”. Here are nine ways to prevent rodent invasion in your home.
Check for their signs
Like every other pest, rodents also leave traces of their presence, if they are living in your home. Teeth marks, shreds of papers, droppings, holes in the ground are some of the signs of a rodent infestation.
Seal up the holes and cracks
Never leave any hole or crack on your property as-is. Seal them up before they serve as entry points for rodents. Rats are excellent diggers. So, if you find any hole in the ground, make sure there are no other signs of rats on your premises.
Cut all overhanging branches
Never allow plants and trees to grow near your house. If you find any branch overhanging or touching your roof, remove it immediately.
Cut off their food source
Rodents mostly come for food so make sure you don’t dispose of your food waste in the open. Always put them in a trash can with a lid. Also, store pet food in an airtight container so that its scent doesn’t attract rodents to your property.
Plant mint in your compound
Rodents don’t find mint interesting so planting mint can deter them from accessing your property. Also, rubbing peppermint oil on their possible entry points can keep them at bay to a good extent.
Secure your compound
Building a wall around your property is a great way to prevent rodents from accessing your property.
Place traps and baits
Traps and baits help you find and kill rats hiding in your house. Place them where you see their signs frequently.
Maintain cleanliness in your home
Try to keep your home and surroundings clean, free from litter. Clean your waste bin regularly. If you see fallen leaves, fruits, vegetables, plants, etc. lying in your garden, remove them immediately.
If possible, buy a cat
Being their natural enemy, cats can act as a natural deterrent for rats and mice. So, if you are longing to have pets in your home, buy a cat as it will help you tackle rodent problems to some extent.
Call in a professional
The above nine techniques can only prevent rodent access, but for rodent control in Dubai, you’ll need expert help. There are professional pest control solutions in homes for rodent problems.
If you are facing rat problems in your Dubai home, give us a call. We can help you prevent and control rat problems of any scale. Armour Pest Control LLC is a UAE-based pest control company, approved by the Dubai Municipality. Rat control, termite control, disinfection, and sanitization are some of our core services. We use eco-friendly products for pest control.