We’re not talking about when someone doesn’t invite you to their party or you don’t sit with others at lunch. We are talking about exclusion as it relates to pest control. Do you know what pest exclusion is? It’s an important aspect of pest control all year round, but when the temperatures start to fall, it’s even more important. Learn what pest exclusion is and why your home may need it.
What’s the definition of pest exclusion?
Pest exclusion is a preventative tactic that includes sealing up areas of your home where pests are likely to enter– essentially, denying pests access to your house in the first place.
How is pest exclusion done?
There are several strategies that can be used to help keep pests out of your home. Here are some of the more common ones:
– Seal Up Cracks & Holes
Pests are pretty good at squeezing in through tiny spaces. Cockroaches can flatten their bodies even flatter than they already are, flies are small, and even larger pests don’t need much room to get in. Rodent exclusion is very important as rats only need a hole the size of a quarter to enter your home. And mice? They only need a hole the size of a dime to squeeze through. It would be impressive if it didn’t mean they were getting in your home. So, having a general contractor or handyman caulk around windows and doors and fill in cracks in your foundation can help. A good pest control company—like Western Pest—will also perform this service while also taking care of the pests that may have come in already.
– Create Obstacles
In areas that can’t be sealed like vents and drainpipes, you can create an obstacle the pests won’t want to deal with. Copper or metal mesh will allow the water to run out or the air to get through but will deter rats, mice, birds, and even bats from coming in. Copper is more expensive, but it doesn’t stain or rust so it’s worth the extra cost. Putting a mesh barrier inside the pipe or vent as well as around it will help. Again, a proper pest control company should be offering you this type of exclusion service, or it should be included in a year-round service plan.
– Put Up Netting
For some protected species like bats, we wouldn’t want to hurt the little guys (and gals)! At the same time, you don’t want them in your attic! So, allowing them to get out safely but not get back in is key. Netting is a humane way to handle bat exclusion. It’s designed to do exactly what we are saying – let bats out but not let them back in. Once the bats go out to hunt for food, they will not be allowed back. Unless their food is also in your attic. That’s a whole different problem! But it’s also very important that you put up this netting at the right time of year so there are no babies left behind. All the more reason to use a bat exclusion professional. They will know these details.
– Remove Access
A branch that is attached to a tree but also leans over your roof is like a welcome sign to squirrels. If they are agile enough to walk on power lines, a branch is probably a walk in the park. It’s also a bridge right to your roof. Have a landscaper trim those trees back from your roof. That’s a good safety tip in addition to being a smart squirrel exclusion strategy. You won’t be worried about that limb falling on your home during a storm anymore!
Pest exclusion work isn’t rocket science. But some of it can take a ladder you may not want to climb, products you may not know how to use, and some tools you may not have. The good news is there’s always a professional out there willing to do it for you. Sometimes it’s just safer to trust the pros and this may be that time. But at least you know what it is now, right?