The rodent family is relatively large, including mice, rats, squirrels, porcupines, chipmunks, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Defined by their sharp incisors, rodents are known for gnawing wood, breaking into food, and biting predators. Plus, with the cold weather fast approaching, they will do whatever it takes to stay warm. Enter the need for rodent extermination.

In this article, we’re taking a look at a few of the most common rodent species in New England and how they’re preparing for the upcoming winter season.

Mice and Moles

Possibly one of the most common unwanted house dwellers of the winter season is mice and moles. With a hole the size of a nickel, a mouse or mole can easily enter your home. And it WILL bring friends! With an ever-growing population in your walls, attic, or basement, these rodents can quickly compromise the structural integrity of your home. Nesting in areas that provide warmth, rodents also leave behind a lot of fecal matter. Not only is this gross, but it can also pose health concerns for your family.

Squirrels

As you know, food is scarce for outdoor critters during the winter. This is why we see an abundance of chipmunks and squirrels scurrying about during the fall months. Collecting stashes of berries and nuts, tripling their food intake, and building nests ensure a long winters survival. However, you won’t want to underestimate the survival instinct of these guys. With the smallest window of opportunity to enter your warm home, they will. Chimneys are one of the most common locations for squirrels to enter. But, once in, these guys will explore causing an abundance of damage.

Bats

Once believed to migrate, it’s now known that bats hibernate over the winter months. And, you guessed it, your home is the perfect shelter from the fiercely cold weather outdoors. With attics being the standard location for these critters, it’s imperative to prepare your home before the frigid cold sets in. Ensuring gaps in the siding and roof are attended to is the primary way to keep bats outside where they belong. If you’re not up for major home renovations, you will at least want to barricade any gaps with heavy-duty plastic designed to keep the outdoors out.

A little FYI

Yes, you’re correct, bats are not considered a rodent. However, with approximately 2,277 species of rodents in the New England region, we’ll keep these pests here for the sake of our unwanted wintertime visitor conversation. Other species often misinterpreted for rodents include tree shrews, hares, rabbits, weasels, and mink. Although these critters are not classified as rodents, it doesn’t mean rodent extermination is out of the question.

With winter quickly closing in on New England, it’s time to prepare your home and consider rodent extermination. At Absolute Pest, we have the tools and expertise to handle nearly any pest situation! For more information, contact our team today at (877) 600-2263.