Two Ways to Keep Rodents Out of Your Attic and Crawl Space

OAKLAND — When rodents infest an attic or a crawl space, it can cause a lot of issues, from unwanted noise to unsanitary conditions. The best way to keep rodents out of these areas is to take preventative measures. Consider the following tips:

Seal exterior openings. The easiest way for rodents to access an attic or a crawl space is through gaps in the home exterior. Some common examples of this are damaged vent screens and gaps around air conditioning pipes. To eliminate these and similar sources of entry, walk around your home and address any problem areas you find. Besides repairing (or replacing) any damaged vent screens, fill gaps around piping with steel wool or by fitting a wire screen over the area. Don’t use caulk or expansive foam to seal gaps—rodents will simply chew through it. Remember, it only takes a very small hole for a rodent to access your home, so don’t take any chances.

Trim back nearby trees. A common catalyst for rodents to gain entry to an attic is tree limbs that are touching or growing near the roof. This creates a direct path for rodents to get up on the roof, at which point they can easily find their way into the attic. To prevent this, regularly trim all tree limbs growing near your roof to maintain a proximity of at least three feet.