Marion & Citrus County 352 694-1977 Lake & Sumter County 352 360-0677
RODENT CONTROL & SMALL ANIMAL TRAPPING
Rodent & small animal trapping are both common services that we offer in The Villages, Summerfield and Lady Lake. Both rodent control and small animal trapping services stay busy throughout the entire year. While rodent and small animal control reach its peak during the autumn and winter months, infestations can occur at any time of the year.
One of the greatest causes for concern include house fires that start in the attic due to these animals chewing on exposed wires. For this reason, we trap nuisance animals both indoors and outdoors. Rodents and small animals are also carriers of bacterial and viral infections such as hantavirus, salmonella, tularemia, rabies and more. They also present a problem for asthma patients due to their dander. Similar to rats and mice, small animals can also bring fleas and ticks into your home. Rodents and small animals that perish in crawl spaces or attics are often responsible for flea infestations. Once their host is dead, fleas need to find a new host.
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Rodent control
Common rodents include mice and rats. Both are known for damaging property and spreading the disease to humans. Often times, you’ll hear scratching in the walls or find small droppings scattered around a specific area. During the cooler months, rats and mice are more likely to take refuge inside homes and other man-made structures.
Rodent control is a service that needs immediate attention because of their prolific nature. Rodent colonies tend to grow quickly and spread to other parts of the structure. Anyone who has dealt with an infestation will tell you that having rodents around is a serious issue. Besides their destructive nature and ability to spread disease, rodents can also bring fleas and ticks into your home or business.
Small animal trapping
Common animals we trap and remove include:
- Squirrels
- Raccoons
- Opossum
- Skunks
- Armadillos
The most common small animals we trap are squirrels and raccoons. These animals are a danger to your home, property, and health.
Common rodent control and animal trapping questions
What brings rodents and small animals to enter our homes?
Two things, shelter or they have found a food source.
Can having a bird feeder attract rodents and other small animals?
Certainly! Especially mice, rats, and squirrels. Mice, rats, and squirrels can do damage to your home and property, so in such cases, as tempting as it might be, it’s best not to have a bird feeder. Remember that squirrels and rats chew wires in the attic causing house fires.
What are some of the most preferred foods of rodents and small animals?
Rodents and small animals feed on a large array of grain products, seeds, nuts, stored dry goods and more. Just about all of them love peanut butter. They can resist it. They’ll also go through your trash eating anything they find suitable. Sometimes, they knock trash cans over causing a mess that’s not fun to clean.
Can Meryl’s Termite and Pest Control help me with my rodent or small animal infestation?
Absolutely! We have 30 years in the business. This is what we do and we’re good at it.
When rodents and small animals enter a home, where are they most likely to nest?
The attic, wall voids, and crawl spaces are the most common places these animals nest. Rats and mice prefer wall voids over other small animals like squirrels and raccoons which prefer the attic. They can also damage cars, campers, and other vehicles. We get several calls of infested vehicles every year. Squirrels often nest under car hoods in the area of the engine. In doing so, they chew through wires and cause major damage. This is why cars that sit for an extended period of time should be checked at least once a week for rodent intruders.
What kind of damage can rodents and other small animals do to my home?
Probably the most worrisome is chewing wires in the attic and wall voids which are responsible for most attic and home fires. This is why you should call us at the first sign of rodent or small animal activity. They also can containment your foods and air and cause several different kinds of disease. Then there’s the physical damage they do to your personal items (clothes, books, etc) by chewing on them with the attention of making their nests.
Can rodents and other small animals bring fleas and ticks into my home?
Unfortunately, yes and sometimes they become major infestations. This is especially true when and the animal dies in the attic, wall voids, or crawl space. The fleas and ticks need to search for a new host. That can make living unpleasant around the inside of the home. This scenario happens quite frequently.
What can I do to prevent rodents and small animals from damaging my home and property?
Some things you can do to be proactive and lessen the chances of infestation are to not put up bird feeders, keep all garbage in containers with tight or lockable lids, seal up any known entry points in or around your home and take away any food sources that may attract them. Put up a rodent-proof fence around outdoor gardens. Hire a professional for preventive and corrective situations. Maintenance is the key to ongoing prevention.
Does having these pest invaders mean I keep a dirty house?
The idea of dirty houses being the only cause for a rodent, small animal and even cockroaches and other bugs is a myth. Yes, keeping garbage to a minimum helps reduce the risk but there are many people with perfectly clean homes that are invaded. This is partially due to the state we live in, a sub-tropical state like Florida. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it does need to be taken care of. We promise anonymity for all our customers.