Iowa, Illinois, & Wisconsin Could Soon Experience A ‘Rodent Rampage’ In Their Homes

You may need to charge rent to a few critters before too long.

Some of us have had to deal with snakes and bugs in our houses or on our property this summer. And now, one of the best parts of fall is that all of those crawl back into the earth where they belong.

But we're not out of the woods yet.

Farmers' Almanac is calling for Iowa's first frost to be in early to mid-October. Which is great, we love when there's a fall breeze in the air. But that weather and what's following it could cause you some issues in the house.

Why Rats Might Be Your New Tenant

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a big snowstorm for our area in late January and of course, like any other Midwestern winter, it's going to be cold.

Pest control companies advise you that rats will find anywhere in your house that is remotely warm.

That includes nesting in the cavities in your walls, under your floorboards, near your hot water tank, or in your attic. They can make a nest with anything soft, like insulation, paper, or clothes.

You know the signs: droppings, gnaw marks, nests, scurrying sounds, and little footprints.

What To Do About It

If you figure out that yes, rats have set up camp in your house for the winter, you're advised to take these steps:

🐀Seal entry points into your house. A rat can enter in a space that's even a fourth of an inch wide.

🐀Set traps.

🐀Clean up any trash and debris.

🐀Call a pest control company.

Don't get too comfortable thinking that we're done with random critters in our houses just because it's colder outside. That likely won't be the case.