Rodent-Proofing Your Home Before Winter in Fort Worth

As temperatures drop across the greater Fort Worth and Tarrant County area, mice and rats start looking for warm places to spend the winter — and your home is at the top of their list. A single mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime, and once inside, rodents reproduce rapidly. At General Pest Co, we see a significant spike in rodent calls every fall and winter. Here's how to get ahead of the problem.

Understand the Threat

Rodents aren't just a nuisance. They contaminate food with droppings and urine, spread diseases like hantavirus and salmonella, and cause property damage by gnawing on wiring, insulation, and structural wood. The CDC estimates that rodents are responsible for significant numbers of house fires each year due to electrical damage.

Inspect Your Exterior

Start by walking around your home's exterior and looking for any gap larger than a quarter inch. Pay special attention to:

• Where utility pipes and wires enter the building
• Foundation vents and weep holes
• Gaps under garage doors
• Damaged soffit and fascia boards
• Roof intersections and ridge vents

Seal Entry Points

Use steel wool stuffed into gaps (mice can't chew through it), followed by caulk to hold it in place. For larger openings, use hardware cloth with a quarter-inch mesh. Replace worn garage door seals and install door sweeps on exterior doors. Don't forget the dryer vent — install a proper vent cover with a damper that closes when the dryer isn't running.

Eliminate Food Sources

Rodents are opportunistic feeders. Store pantry items in glass or heavy plastic containers. Don't leave pet food bowls out overnight. Keep bird feeders well away from the house, and clean up fallen seed regularly. Secure outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids.

Reduce Harborage

Clear clutter in garages, sheds, and storage areas. Stack firewood at least 20 feet from the house and keep it elevated off the ground. Trim shrubs and ground cover near the foundation to eliminate hiding spots. In the attic, store items in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes.

Set Monitoring Stations

Place snap traps or monitoring stations along walls in areas where rodents are likely to travel — behind appliances, in the garage, in the attic, and in crawl spaces. Check them regularly. If you're catching mice, it means they're already inside and exclusion work is needed.

When to Call a Professional

If you're hearing scratching in the walls, finding droppings in cabinets, or seeing gnaw marks on food packaging, it's time to call in help. General Pest Co provides comprehensive rodent control that includes trapping, exclusion, and ongoing monitoring. We identify every entry point, seal them with professional-grade materials, and ensure the problem is fully resolved.

Don't share your home with rodents this winter. Call General Pest Co at (817) 555-2847 or request a rodent inspection online.