When the weather turns cold, creatures great and small seek shelter, and sometimes the shelter they choose is yours.
According to the National Pest Management Association, Georgia is among the top five states for website searches related to rodent problems. (We're just behind Texas, California, New York and Illinois.)
To keep country mice from moving indoors and taking up residence in your house, the pest control group suggests the following precautions:
• Check both the inside and outside of the home for cracks or crevices, and seal any openings with caulk, steel wool, or both. Pay special attention to areas where utilities and pipes enter the home.
• Replace loose mortar and weatherstripping around the basement foundation and windows.
• Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and five feet off the ground. Keep shrubbery and tree branches cut back from the house.
• Keep basements and attics clear and store boxes off of the floor. Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
• Keep food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
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