Preventing Rodents in the Community Fact Sheet (PDF)

Why prevent rodents in the community?

Rodents can transmit diseases through feces, urine, or saliva, or indirectly through ticks, mites, or fleas. Rodent-borne diseases such as plague, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, and murine typhus fever have occurred in the United States.

How to prevent rodents in the community:

Take the following steps to prevent rodents in and around your property. Your efforts help support your community's rodent control program.

• Remove food, water, and shelter.
• Place all garbage and household waste into tightly sealed metal or thick plastic trash cans. Inspect for holes and replace as needed.
• Keep bird feeders away from the house and clean up spillage daily. Keep bird seed and other animal feed in tightly sealed metal or thick plastic containers. 
• Remove leftover food and water from pet dishes.
• Clean up animal waste daily.
• Remove standing water inside and outside the home that may collect in things like potted plants and bird baths.
• Eliminate snail populations in your yard and gardens.
• Clean up fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries that have fallen to the ground.
• Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean and free of food debris.
• Keep food inside the home stored in tightly sealed metal or thick plastic containers.
• Be sure that all windows that can be opened are screened and the screens are in good condition.
• Make sure internal screens on roof and attic air vents are in good condition.
• Make sure all exterior doors are tight fitting and weatherproofed at the bottom.
• Store lumber, firewood, and building materials on a paved surface or elevated off the ground.
• Seal holes inside and outside the home. This may be as simple as plugging small holes with steel wool, or patching holes on inside or outside walls.
• Remove potential rodent nesting sites from your property, including leaf piles, deep mulch, and clutter. 
• Use compost bins with secure covers. 
• Maintain yard and avoid vegetation overgrowth.

If the presence of rodents is persistent in your home or property, contact a certified pest control operator for assistance.

Additional Resources

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Pesticide Application Businesses Currently Licensed to do Business in Michigan
• Rodent Prevention on Your Property - Town of Brookline, MA
• Identify and Prevent Rodent Infestations - United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Wildlife