Remove food sources and secure garbage bins

What to Do

Store all food in sealed glass or metal containers. Keep garbage in tightly sealed cans. Remove bird feeders or switch to rodent-proof designs. Pick up fallen fruit from trees. Do not leave pet food outdoors overnight. Eliminate ground cover and tall grass near the foundation.

Why It Works

Rodents stay where food is reliably available. Removing food sources makes your property less attractive and forces rodents to forage elsewhere. Even with trapping and exclusion, an abundant food supply will continue to attract new rodents from the surrounding area.

Tips

• Bird feeders are one of the biggest rodent attractants — spilled seed draws mice and rats nightly
• Compost bins should be fully enclosed with hardware cloth on the bottom
• Stack firewood at least 20 feet from the house and off the ground
• Trim bushes at the foundation to eliminate cover
• Store bulk pet food and animal feed in metal containers with tight-fitting lids