Maintaining your home and landscape is a key factor in protecting your property from pests, such as roof rats, mice, scorpions, bees, insects and mosquitoes. Home pride and proper maintenance will ensure real estate values and keep the neighborhood viable.

• Seal attic of all openings, cracks and holes
• Screen vent pipes, attic vents and turbines
• Install approved spark arrestor over chimney
• Fill all holes in fascia and freeze boards
• Repair door and window screens
• Check dryer and exhaust vent openings
• Secure pet doors at night
• Seal garage and storage room doors
• Inspect laundry rooms and pantry
• Inspect under kitchen and bathroom sinks
  
  

• Cut tree branches 24” away from roof edge
• Prune interlocking trees
• Thin oleanders and clean all debris underneath
• Trim and thin all ivy, bushes, and ground cover
• Cut back foliage around fences, overhead wires
• Remove all debris piles and accumulated junk
• Organize all salvage in an orderly manner
• Stack firewood on rack 18” above the ground
• Clean up and organize any yard sheds

Every back yard has numerous sources of food for unwanted pest and rodents. Vegetable gardens, fruit trees, uncovered trash containers, nut trees, pet foods and wild bird seed make a virtual wild life grocery.

If roof rats or other rodents are present in your neighborhood, it would be prudent to do the following:

• Promptly and completely harvest fruit and nuts
• Safe guard vegetable gardens
• Do not leave pet food and water out overnight
• Keep yard clean of pet waste
• Feed birds on cleanable surface
• Supervise water features, ponds and pools
• Secure trash containers

BBQ Grills Notice: Roof rats seem to favor BBQ grills, since they are dark and usually a source of grease and fats from recent outside cooking.

• After removing BBQ meats, increase heat and burn off greases
• Cover grill after cooling
• Dispose of all grease in catch basins