With frigid winter temperatures, homeowners and their pets are not the only ones that seek warmth and shelter. Kilter Pest Control would like to remind everyone that mice, rats and other rodents would look for warm homes during winter. In fact, around 20 million homes in the country are invaded by rodents every winter. Mice, rats and other rodents remain unwelcome to most homeowners because they are filthy creatures. These pests are known for causing property damage from chewed out walls to damaged electrical lines and insulation, which may compromise the structural integrity of the house as well as the entire household’s safety. Rodents would also serve as vectors for many common diseases. They easily spread diseases like Hantavirus, salmonella, rabies and leptospirosis. Rodents would spread these disease by contaminating food and water as well as food preparation surfaces. Some home owners tend to ignore signs of rodents in their homes assuming it’s nothing and is a small problem that they can resolve easily. However, rodents reproduce fast. Female mice can have a dozen babies every 3 weeks and new born mice will become sexually fertile after 6-8 weeks. Therefore, a small infestation can easily grow into a big one if left unnoticed. Kilter recommends to follow these tips to make sure your home remain rodent-free the entire winter: • Make sure to seal cracks, holes or small gaps to prevent rodents from entering your homes. • Pay close attention to the cleanliness of your home. Mice and rats love filth. • Rodents love clutter, so it is important to clear away clutter like boxes, piles of newspapers, cans, rags and etc. Keep them off of the ground and store them properly. • Avoid building rodent attractions nearby your house. Store firewood away from the house. Prune shrubs and trim away branches branching out to your house. • Keep food away from rodents reach. Put them in rodent-proof containers and leave no food crumbs behind. • If there are signs of rodents like rodent feces or scurrying sounds behind the walls, contact rodent control services for inspection. About the company Established back in 1991, Kilter Termite and Pest Control is a termite and pest control company that operates in Los Angeles and Orange County. For more information call 866-836-7767.