At Carson Dunlop, we reached out to one of our Homeowners Association Partners, Orkin Canada, to help provide homeowners with more information and guidance on keeping their homes rodent-free this season. As Dan Dawson, National Marketing Manager at Orkin Canada explains, "Rodents like rats and mice look for warmth and shelter during the winter because they are warm-blooded animals, making them notorious home invaders during the colder months."

>> Carson Dunlop: How might rodents enter a home?

Dan Dawson: "The smallest openings, cracks and crevices in your home can serves as rodent entry points. Rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter, and mice only need a hole the size of a pencil. Common places they might find these access points include cracks and crevices in your foundation and around doors and windows."

>>CD: What preventative steps can homeowners take?

DD: "There are several steps you can take to help prevent rodents from accessing your home:

1. Check the interior and exterior of your home for entry points, and seal any unnecessary openings with weather-resistant sealant enforced with steel or copper wool so rodents cannot gnaw through.
2. Make sure doors or windows are flush against their frames and the floor, and use weather stripping to fill in any gaps.
3. Trim landscaping away from your home, as shrubbery can provide harbourage for rodents.
4. Store food in tightly sealed containers, preferably made of tin or plastic, and clean up food and water spills immediately.
5. Vacuum, sweep and mop regularly to eliminate food and water sources that might attract rodents.
6. Keep trash cans tightly sealed and dispose of trash regularly."

>>CD: How can you tell if there are rodents in your home?

DD:"If you suspect you might have rodents in your home, look for the following signs:

1. Droppings - Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice and rat droppings are about the size of a raisin.
2. Gnaw marks - Rats and mice gnaw even when they're full, so look out for places in your home that appear to be chewed or gnawed, particularly around cracks and crevices.
3. Rub markings - Rodents feel protected when they crawl along baseboards or around pipe openings."

>>CD: What can you do if you have rodents in your home?

DD: "If you find yourself with a mouse or rat issue, do not come into contact with the rodents and the diseases they may be carrying. Instead, contact a pest management provider immediately - they will help you to resolve the issue and set up a proactive program to keep these pests at bay year-round."

As a professional Home Inspection consulting company, our aim is to help homeowners stay safe, warm and dry. The Carson Dunlop Homeowners Association partners with companies like Orkin Canada, to help provide homeowners with the knowledge and the tools to protect their properties. As Homeowners Association members, Carson Dunlop clients receive 20% off when booking a pest control inspection with Orkin Canada. To learn more about this partner, click here. For more tips, advice and information, visit our resource center.  

December Poll

Last month, 38 homeowners told us what sized entry point mice need to get into a home. Here are their responses: