What Is Exclusion And Why Is It Important For Pest Control?
Pest exclusion is a very critical part of an effective long-term pest management effort. Rather than simply douse your home with chemicals meant to eradicate pest infestations, it’s been proven more effective to take a more comprehensive, long-term, earth-friendly approach to manage intrusive pests. And it’s healthier for the environment. Welcome to integrated pest management, or IPM.
Pest exclusion, an important aspect of IPM, is a more pro-active, preventive measure that involves sealing off areas of your home or business where pests might be likely to intrude. If all goes well, exclusion will block them off from entering the structure to begin with.
Why Is Pest Exclusion Important?
Insects and rodents have a long track record of easily being able to slip inside cracks, crevices, holes, gaps, and any other small entry points around the outside of your home. IPM is driven by the idea that preventing pests from getting into your home is by far easier than getting rid of them once they are inside. In that same vein, exclusion can be considered the first defense against pests getting into your home.
How Does Pest Exclusion Work?
So yes, pest exclusion involves sealing off areas that you don’t want pests to get in, especially the inside of your home at all! This includes sealing cracks in the foundation, screening over vents, screening over the bottom of your downspouts, keeping your fireplace flue closed when not in use, and sealing off pipe/utility entry points with screening, copper wool, or cement. Taking into account the fact that some parts of your home or business should remain ventilated and somewhat open, the whole point of exclusion is to eliminate any and all entry points possible. You can also help minimize migration routes for insects and other pests by keeping windows shut and by making sure door and window screens are in good repair.
Other pest exclusion tactics recommended by IPM experts and professionals involve keeping any and all organic materials as far away from the outside of your home or business as possible (i.e., mulch, compost, trash, leaf piles, yard clutter, etc.). Minimization of things that attract pests, like food and water sources, will also help you keep pests away. You also want to do things like keeping your storage areas free of empty boxes and piles of newspaper that pests could use to nest or breed.
Exclusion can be time-consuming, but it is definitely worth it.
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There is plenty you can do to keep insect pests and rodents out of your home, but hoe much time are you spending? Don’t spend all your evenings and weekends chasing after pest problems. Save yourself time, stress, and money by calling our FullScope pest control experts today at 832-898-0190 for a consultation. You can also email us at [email protected]. We can inspect your home’s exterior for you, help you manage your potential pest problems in your yard, and then we can show you what you can do to help prevent future pest problems. Save your free time for your family and friends!
