As cold weather starts to creep in, animals and insects are going to be searching for places to stay warm during winter. Pests usually view the garage as a perfect location for staying warm and dry all season long. A rat or squirrel infestation is not something you want to deal with, so make sure you're taking precautions to keep critters away from your home this year. Here are a few ideas for keeping your garage pest free:
1. Seal any cracks
Mice can squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices in your foundation, and once they're in it's hard to get them out. Make it difficult for them to find entry by sealing any noticeable fissures in your garage. If you want to be really thorough, have a pest management company come inspect your space and show you any potential trouble spots. You might think this is an unnecessary measure, but you'll be regretting it in the middle of winter when all you can hear are tiny paws scurrying across your ceiling.
2. Stay organized
Keeping your garage clean and organized will help you notice any droppings, and it will make it more difficult for animals to hide in your supplies. Use wall bins to keep items organized throughout the garage and items off the floor. Regularly sweeping the floor is another method that will help keep pests away. When your floor is clean, it's less likely to provide any food to potential critters and insects.
3. Set traps
Even with solid preventative measures pests can still find a way to slip inside your home. When this happens, you can set out a variety of traps to catch the animals. If you use live traps, make sure you check the local policy on releasing trapped animals. Some might require you to travel at least five miles from the initial trap sight, but others may require a greater distance.
If you haven't been having any luck with your own traps after a couple of weeks, it might be time to call an exterminator.
