It usually starts with a noise. Maybe it’s a little scratching behind the wall. It could be a scuffle in the ceiling or even the fireplace. Maybe something weird near the baseboards that wasn’t there yesterday. But suddenly, there’s a sinking feeling that something’s made its way inside, and it’s not the friendly kind. Now, it’s obvious enough, but rodents don’t always roll in through the front door.
In fact, they’ve got all kinds of wild and unexpected ways to invite themselves in, especially as temperatures start to rise. If you live in a rural area, you’ll find that when summer comes, they’ll start looking for water and cooler places to hide in the heat of the day. But how exactly do they get in?
That Slightly Open Garage Door? Yeah, That’s All It Takes
Sometimes it’s only cracked an inch, or maybe it’s just not sealing right on one side. Doesn’t matter. That’s basically an open invitation. Mice, rats, and even squirrels don’t need much space to squeeze through. Once they’re in the garage, it’s a short trip to whatever else they can reach, storage boxes, pet food, even that door into the house that never really latches. Unfortunately, it’s easy access.
Climbing the Outside of the House
It’s honestly crazy to think, but rodents don’t care about gravity. No, really, there’s the siding, cables, gutters, even decorative trim, and it all works like a ladder to them. They’ll scale up the outside of a house like they’re on some sort of mission. And once they get to the top? Well, then there’s the loose shingles, gaps near the roofline, open vents… It’s like a secret entrance waiting to be discovered.
When they come in this way, you’ll not only need rodent control help from an exterminator, but you’ll might also need a contractor due to the damage that rat or mouse is going to make to your home.
There’s the Plumbing Pipes
It’s not something anyone wants to picture, but some rodents actually use pipes to travel. And in rare (but very real) cases, they’ve come up through toilets. Not exactly a fun surprise. More often, though, it’s the gaps around the plumbing they’re after. But on top of that, those little spaces behind sinks or washing machines? Well, they’re perfect hideouts and entry points,too.
Tree Branches Make Great Launch Pads
That tall tree in the yard with branches hanging over the roof? Well, you might have seen it on videos (or even in real life), but rodents love that. It’s their version of a zipline. Squirrels, especially, will use those branches to jump onto the roof, scope things out, and then find a nice little gap to wiggle into.
Sure, they rarely get into people’s homes, but rats and mice 100% will. They will find a vent without a screen or a spot where the flashing comes loose. But either way, once they’re up there, they’re exploring.
Your Fireplace
Alright, people know birds and bats get into fireplaces, but rodents do, too. Chimneys are other overlooked spots rodents use to enter our homes. If there’s no cap or the screen’s damaged, rats and squirrels can slide right in. Some even chew through the mortar or sneak into the gaps around it. And once they’re behind the walls or above the ceiling, they’re pretty tough to track down.
As the weather warms up, put looking for these vulnerable places on your to-do list. Keeping these unwanted guests out will help keep you ready to open your homes to the ones you actually invite!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
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