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Seal up to keep wild mice and rats out of your home.

Look for gaps or holes inside or outside your home

Stop rodents from entering your home – check inside and outside for gaps or holes and seal any holes you find. Check for small and large holes – mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil (1/4 in or 6 mm in diameter).

Where to look for gaps or holes inside your home:

Using lath metal to seal gaps around pipes.

Inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets

Floor areas in closets, especially corners

Around the fireplace

Around windows and doors

Behind appliances

Around the pipes under sinks and washing machines

Around the pipes leading to hot water heaters and furnaces

Around floor air and dryer vents

Around all electrical, water, gas, and sewer lines

Inside the attic

In the basement or crawl space

Around floor drains, such as in your basement or laundry room

Between the floor and wall juncture

Where to look for gaps or holes outside your home:

In the roof among the rafters, gables, eaves, and soffits

Around windows and doors (especially those without weather stripping)

Between the foundation of the home and ground

Around attic and crawl space vents

Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable, and gas lines

How to seal gaps and holes inside and outside your home

Using caulk to seal gaps between the home foundation and ground.

Seal any holes you find to stop rodents from entering. Fill small holes with steel wool. Put caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place or use spray foam. Use lath screen or lath metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix larger holes. Cut material to fit around pipes. Fix gaps in trailer skirting and use flashing around the base of the house. Outbuildings and garages should also be sealed to prevent the entrance of rodents. We recommend contacting your local or state health department if there is concern of a rodent infestation or guidance is needed on what to do for a specific home or situation. A pest control specialist may be consulted if rodents have gotten into areas that cannot be reached to clean.

Maintain areas inside and outside to deter mice and rats

Rodents are attracted to food and water sources, as well as places that are convenient for them to build nests.

Seal up food and water sources inside your home:

Keep food sealed in thick plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight lids. Clean up spilled food right away. Wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use. Put pet food away after use. Do not leave food or water bowls out overnight. Keep inside garbage in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. Frequently clean the containers with soap and water. Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis.

Seal up nesting sites and food sources outside your home:

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