For Kansas City homeowners, you know how it goes: one day it is 50 degrees, the next it is 15 degrees. As you adjust your thermostat, mice and rats are making their own climate choices, and your cellar is looking very appealing. Now combine those freeze-thaw cycles with unwitting houseguests looking for shelter and food, and you have the perfect storm. The KC winter swings that break your driveway also break entry points into your house.
Noises of scratching from within the walls or finding droppings next to boxes that are being stored away from home are not simply nuisances but public health threats that require action. If you have exhausted your DIY traps, a professional pest control from saelapest.com can save you from a breeding cycle turning into an infestation.
The Kansas City Freeze-Thaw Cycle Explained
Kansas City lies in the center of what is termed a “freeze-thaw zone” by meteorologists, where winter temperatures are in a constant seesaw between freezing nights and rather warm days. Kansas City averages 104 freezing days a year, according to the National Weather Service, with temperatures often fluctuating just above, then back below 32°F, sometimes multiple times during a week.
Here is where these cycles come into play:
- Morning freeze: When temperatures fall below 32 degrees, water gets into splits and gaps, freezing and pushing the water to expand
- Afternoon thaw: Ice melts in warm ai,r and deeper water can permeate foundation cracks
- Repeat damage: The same expansion and contraction highlight existing fractures in the foundation of your home, siding, and window frames
The Basement: A Rodent’s KC Winter Oasis
A rodent could survive the worst Kansas City winter in your basement. Even when there is 20 degrees outside, the temperature is relatively constant–typically somewhere around 50–60°F. Old boxes sitting in the garage serve as nesting material; the expired Halloween candy or an open bag of dog food in the pantry offer an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Rodents need moisture, and the humidity from your water heater and washing machine imitates that. Combine that with darkness and few humans, and you almost have the welcome mat out.
Proactive Kansas City Rodent Prevention
- Seal Your Home’s Exterior
Check for cracks around your foundation that are wider than a pencil. If there are gaps, fill them with steel wool and caulk; rodents cannot chew through steel. Make sure to take notice of the entry point of utility lines into your house.
- Manage Your Yard
Store firewood 20 feet or more away from your home, and trim tree branches that are within 6 feet of your roof. According to data from the University of Missouri Extension, 70 % of rodent entry points are located within 3 feet of overgrown vegetation.
- Control Indoor Attractions
Store pet food in a metal container and keep your basement tidy. Clutter provides hiding spots. Dwellings that came equipped with a finished basement had 40% fewer rodent reports than homes with half-finished storage spaces, mostly because these areas are looked over more often, according to housing data from Kansas City.
- Install Door Sweeps
One of the common entrances for outsiders is the gap under the exterior doors. A door sweep is sub-$20 and blocks one common entry point.
Wrapping Up!
The unpredictable nature of Kansas City’s weather in the winter makes it hard for homeowners to properly exclude rodents from the home. The freeze-thaw cycle is not going to disappear, so vigilance needs to be a part of your seasonal routine. If you begin hearing scratching noises or notice droppings, store-bought traps likely will not cut it.
Saela Pest Control services the Kansas City metro area and knows how the local weather conditions can affect pests. They provide inspected services pinpointing points of entry you may not see and treatment plans catered to KC-specific climate issues. Getting rid of a few mice now, before they grow into an infestation, is important in preventing problems for your health as well as for your home.
