FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Cities in Fort Myers regularly appear near the top of many Top 10 lists for positive attributes, such as for being the best place to retire or for great beaches. But now Fort Myers finds itself near the top of a rodent-related list just released.
According to Business Wire, pest control service Terminix has taken upon itself to find the cities with the most roof rats, and Fort Myers is among three Florida cities in the top ten.
They place Fort Myers at the #5 spot on their list of Top 15 Cities for Roof Rat Infestations in the United States.
Miami ranks #3, and Tampa ranks #7 on their list.
Terminix says roof rats and other rodents often seek entry into homes after their outdoor food sources are exhausted. Roof rats are often tree-dwelling, and are more likely to enter a structure through the roof than other species. They often climb wires or trees to seek out points of entry, such as holes around soffit vents, cables entering buildings, or turbine and box vents on roofs.
Terminix recommends homeowners add pest prevention to their fall to-do list alongside raking leaves and sharpening their pumpkin carving skills. A few tips include:
- Ensuring all firewood, debris and piles of stone or brick are kept as far from the foundation of the home as possible.
- Sealing any holes or cracks larger than a quarter inch, to help prevent rodents from squeezing their way in.
- Installing a thick weather stripping along the bottom of doors, which will help ensure only guests and an autumn breeze can enter through the front door.
For more information, visit Terminix.com.
