These rodents are one of the biggest issues that homeowners have in the United States. By most reports, there are over 21 million infestations happening each year which is too high. There are various methods of prevention as well as extermination, but most people don’t know enough about how to get rid of mice and rats so they end up waiting too long before calling the exterminators.
In some cases, people don’t even notice the infestation signs that become too obvious when you wait too long.
So, what is better: Being careful and doing your best to prevent an infestation, or living your life to the fullest without caring too much about hygiene and causing an infestation? Of course, the obvious answer to this question is prevention.
So, how can you stop mice and rats from eating your seeds and, in turn, figuring out that your home is the perfect shelter for them? Let’s find out!
DIY Methods
If you aren’t too keen on trying out commercial mice and rat repellents, then going the DIY route is your best alternative option. And there are plenty of DIY methods of getting rid of these rodents, and especially keeping them far away from your home and your seeds.
Firstly, you should get some peppermint oil and cotton balls. Since mice and rats have a strong sense of smell, they’ll absolutely hate the scent of peppermint, which will prompt them to leave the area. Soak the cotton balls in the 100% peppermint oil and leave the balls around your home (preferably near entry points such as doors and windows).
Onions are also a good choice when it comes to repellents that have a strong scent.
Commercial Options
There are a couple of good commercial methods of preventing mice and rats from infesting your home (or destroying your seeds and crops), such as purchasing scent repellents that can be dissolved in a sitting body of water. The taste of the water will change and so will its smell, which will keep the rodents away.
You could also check out ultrasonic pest repellers but they aren’t exactly viable (a lot of controversy surrounds them).
But, they have been known to work in certain conditions and when they work, they work really well.
Final Words
In the end, it’s all up to you. Hygiene is a major factor in preventing rodent infestations and it’s not hard to do. All you need to take care of is keeping everything clean and tidy. Crumbs and leftovers should be cleaned up, food should be kept in tightly sealed containers, and all junk should be disposed of regularly.
If you ignore certain things then there’s a chance that an infestation will happen. And you never want that, especially if you own a farm and grow crops. Keep your seeds protected and tucked away from the rodents.