There is a beloved children’s book titled The Mitten where various animals seek refuge during the winter in a — you guessed it — lost mitten. These animals take turns crawling into the woven cold-weather accessory for warmth, stretching it out and even sharing it in an adorable gesture of friendship and generosity. While this story is sweet and teaches a wonderful lesson for kids, real-life rodents are unwelcome visitors in our adult homes. In fact, they can be downright annoying and unsanitary — a far departure from the illustrated critters in author Jan Brett’s timeless classic.
Laura Dillard, research director at rodent-control company Tomcat is an expert in pest management and prevention. “Rodents are especially active in winter as they search for food, water and warmth to survive the colder months,” she says. “Preventing an infestation requires vigilance and preparation to keep these pests at bay.” We chatted with Dillard to share her top tips to safeguard your living space and ensure that the holidays and beyond remain rodent-free.
Peppermint oil is a known deterrent of rodents. There are a handful of all-natural substances that can be set out in place of traditional traps. CNET Home and Kitchen editor David Watsky found peppermint spray to be a particularly effective way to keep rodents from taking up residence in the home. “Peppermint oil is one of the most popular options,” Dillard says, though some people go so far as to put predator urine from animals like foxes or coyotes around their homes. This often scares rodents away so that they don’t end up as a bigger animal’s dinner.
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