Sanitation & Rodent Exclusion

SANITATION IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE:

You ususally don't have an abundance of rodents without enough food and shelter provided. You can reduce the population considerably via sanitation just by the elimination of these sources.

RODENT SANITATION

1. All rubbish piles and refuse need to be eliminated.
2. Landscaped areas need to be properly maintained with wood piles elevated off the ground.
3. All garbage containers and dumpsters should have a tight fitting cover.
4. Rodents can live on the spilled and surplus food from bird feeders and pet food.
5. It is difficult to completely eliminate all food and shelter sources for mice, because of their lesser food requirements due to their smaller size.

RODENT EXCLUSION

1. All openings greater than 1/4' should be sealed to exclude mice, but it may be impossible to seal all openings.
2. All openings greater than 1/2' should be sealed to exclude rats.
3. Likely access points for rodents are where utility lines come into walls, as well as openings around air conditioning, drain pipes and vents.
4. Hardware cloth may be used to seal openings such as attic vents as shown in the picture. Install 1/4-inch wire mesh (hardware cloth) over attic, roof, and crawl space vents in order to prevent entry of birds, bats, squirrels, rodents, and other wildlife. Wearing gloves, when cutting hardware cloth would prevent cuts since the cloth is sharp. Chimney caps exclude birds, squirrels, raccoons and other nuisance wildlife.
5. Metal flashing may be used to seal up openings around the gutters( in picture) 
6. STUF-FIT - Rodent Proofing - Copper Mesh - 100 ft roll
   Use Stuff It Copper Mesh around pipes and utility lines stuffing into the openings such as openings where pipes and wires enter the foundation and siding, e.g., around outdoor faucets, receptacles, gas meters, clothes dryer vents, and telephone/cable TV wires.
7. Check to see that shingles are tight.
8. Odor Problems-Rodent

9. Bac-A-Zap Odor Eliminator For the elimination of malodors caused by: Urine, Feces, Vomit,Decaying Organic Matter, Skunk odor.