In warm months, a yard is lively and open. In late fall, it fills with objects that people pack away or cover: grills under tarps, chairs in sheds, cushions in boxes, hoses coiled, planters stacked. Each is a small shelter, and together they form a neighborhood.
Rodents do not need much. A dry hollow, a bit of soft material and a short route to food will do. This article lists the usual hideouts and how to deal with each.
The grill.
A gas grill has a hollow body with a burner box and a base. Mice get in through gaps around the gas line and the drain. Grease residue adds appeal. A cover keeps the weather off, and also holds the scent of grease.
- Burn off or scrub grease before storing.
- Close the propane valve and remove the tank.
- Check the burner tubes and the cabinet for nests before lighting in spring.
- Store the cover loosely so air can move.
Cushions, umbrellas and furniture.
Patio cushions are filled with foam or batting, which is excellent nesting material. Umbrellas have hollow poles and soft canopies. Wicker and woven furniture has gaps that hold nests.
The best storage is a sealed deck box or an indoor closet. If you leave them out, lift them occasionally and shake out the debris.
Sheds and play sets.
| Backyard item. | Why it draws rodents. | Remedy. |
|---|---|---|
| Shed. | Dark, dry, quiet. | Metal bins for seed, mesh on gaps, shelves for stored items. |
| Play set with hollow parts. | Sheltered cavities. | Check inside before use, cap open ends. |
| Planters stacked. | Gaps between pots. | Store upside down on shelves. |
| Hose coiled on ground. | Cover and warmth. | Hang on a hook. |
| Wood stack. | Shelter. | Rack, several feet from the wall. |
Bird feeders and pet food.
Seed on the ground feeds rodents overnight. Use a tray under the feeder, sweep daily and move the feeder away from the house. Pet food belongs indoors after meals.
A neighbor's feeder can affect you, too. Mention the pattern to them politely if you see a trail of hulls crossing the fence.
Gaps under sheds and decks.
The space under a raised shed or deck is a cover-rich hideout. Screening it with buried hardware cloth, bent outward at the base, stops animals from digging in. The yard page covers the whole job.
Before screening, check that no animals are inside. Closing a burrow with a rat in it can leave a smell. A technician can confirm the space is empty first.
Ten minutes on the phone beats an hour of reading search results.
(888) 686-4821A fall tour.
- Walk the yard with a notebook.
- Open every box, shed and cover.
- Look for droppings, nesting material and chew marks.
- Move or fix what you find.
- Mark anything that needs a technician.
Ten minutes in each hideout is time well spent. If you find signs, photograph them, close the door and call.
A spring check after the cold months.
Once the weather turns, give the yard one more pass. Lift the grill cover, tip the deck box on its side and pull the shed door wide open. Light and fresh air tell you quickly whether anything spent the winter there. Fresh pellets and warm bedding mean the visitor may still be around, so close the door and call before you disturb it.
Wear gloves and a mask when you clean out a space that held nests, and follow the damp-cleaning steps in the safety block of this article. Sweeping dry droppings sends dust into the air, which is the very thing health agencies ask you to avoid. Wet the area, wait, wipe it up and bag it.
Cleanup rules from public health agencies.
Following this routine keeps airborne dust low during the wait.
- A leaf blower aimed into a dusty garage corner is the worst idea, with a household vacuum a close second.
- Garages, attics and sheds trap stale air, so give them thirty minutes of fresh flow before you step in.
- Put gloves on at the beginning, and close out the job with soap and water.
- For the home mix, the CDC calls for bleach and water at a ratio of 1 to 9, prepared new for every session.
- Knot the bag before carrying it, and walk it straight to the outdoor bin.
- Our skill is pest work, which means sickness belongs with a health professional.
The originals, one click away.
Every bait or cleanup comment above is covered by one of these links.
- EPA notes on household bait products: What a homeowner may buy, and the logic behind each limit.
- Rodent cleanup steps from the CDC: Why dry rodent waste should not be swept or vacuumed.