Preferred Properties’ Guide to Pest-Free Living

How Texas homeowners can keep rodents, insects, and other pests under control year-round.

By Preferred Properties of Texas — helping Texans buy, sell, and protect their homes for 30+ years.

Keeping pests out isn’t about one big spray; it’s a system. The most effective approach is IPM (Integrated Pest Management): block entry, remove food/water/shelter, monitor, and then use targeted treatments only where needed. Below is a practical, homeowner-friendly plan—with Texas-specific tips—for rats, mice, cockroaches, and the “other usual suspects” (mosquitoes, fire ants, and scorpions).

The Foundation: Exclusion + Sanitation

Why it works: If they can’t get in or find anything to eat or drink, most infestations collapse fast.

What to seal (and with what)

• Gaps and holes: Seal any opening ≥ ¼ inch (mice) and ≥ ½ inch (rats). Use copper mesh or stainless/galvanized steel wool packed tight and capped with exterior-grade sealant; cover larger vents with ¼-inch hardware cloth. Fit tight door sweeps; keep door-to-threshold clearance at ≤ ¼ inch. stoppests.orgextensionentomology.tamu.eduUtah State University Extension

• Weep holes & penetrations: Screen brick weep holes with breathable weep-hole covers; seal around pipes/wires with escutcheon plates and sealant. schoolipm.tamu.edu

• Screens & weather-strip: Repair window/door screens; weather-strip attic hatches and garage doors. (Rodents often enter garages first.) stoppests.org

Sanitation that actually matters

• Store pet/animal feed in metal or thick plastic lidded bins; same for birdseed. Nightly wipe-downs for counters/stove; don’t leave pet bowls or open trash out overnight. CDC

• Outside: trim vegetation 12–18 inches off the foundation; elevate firewood and reduce clutter piles (prime rodent/scorpion harborage). schoolipm.tamu.edu

Rodents (Rats & Mice)

Signs

Droppings gnaw marks, grease rubs along baseboards, noises in walls/attics. Beyond property damage, rodents can transmit diseases, so control and safe cleanup matter. CDC+1

Fast DIY Plan

1. Seal First: Close entry points (see Exclusion above). This is non-negotiable. stoppests.org

2. Deploy Traps: Use many snap traps (classic wooden or covered styles) along walls, behind appliances, and on runways; set perpendicular to walls so triggers face the travel path. Bait lightly (peanut butter, nut paste, or bacon). Check daily and reset until activity stops. (Trapping is CDC-recommended for eliminating indoor rodents.) CDC

3. Rodenticide? Be cautious. If you choose baits, always place them inside tamper-resistant stations and outdoors or in inaccessible areas, per label. Baits can harm pets/wildlife if misused. Stations protect kids, pets, and non-targets. Texas A&M AgriLifeInsects in the City

4. Safe Cleanup: Don’t sweep/vacuum dry droppings. Ventilate the area, then wet with EPA-registered disinfectant (or fresh 1:10 bleach solution), wipe up with gloves, bag waste, and wash hands. CDC

City vs. Country

• City: Focus on dumpsters/alleys, shared walls, and garage sealing; coordinate with neighbors for shared trash hygiene. CDC

• Country: Barns, feed rooms, and equipment sheds are pressure points; set multiple traps along wall ledges and rafters; store feed in sealed bins and elevate it. CDC

Cockroaches (German, American, Smokybrown, etc.)

Why they persist

Roaches love tight, humid spaces near food/water (kitchens, baths, under appliances). The most reliable DIY control is baiting + sanitation, not baseboard sprays. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

DIY Plan That Works

1. Deep tidy: Remove grease/crumbs, fix leaks, declutter under sinks and inside cabinets. Roaches need water—fix that drip. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

2. Gel baits, placed correctly: Apply many pea-size dabs in cracks/crevices: under/behind sinks, dishwashers, fridges/stoves; cabinet corners; near trash. More small placements beat a few big blobs. Rotate bait actives every 3–6 months (e.g., indoxacarb, fipronil, abamectin) to avoid resistance. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

3. Add an IGR (insect growth regulator): Hydroprene or pyriproxyfen disrupts life cycles; combine with baits for best results. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

4. Dust hidden voids lightly: Boric acid or silica aerogel in wall voids and under toe-kicks (avoid over-application). extensionentomology.tamu.edu

5. Avoid “broadcast” indoor sprays: Repellent residues can scatter roaches and reduce bait feeding; keep any residuals to crack-and-crevice, label-directed spots. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

City vs. Country

• City: German cockroaches dominate in multifamily buildings—coordinate with neighbors/HOAs for building-wide baiting and sanitation. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

• Country: American/Smokybrown roaches move from trees/attics—prune branches off roofs, screen attic/soffit vents with ¼-inch mesh, reduce outside moisture and leaf litter. extensionentomology.tamu.edu

Mosquitoes (Yards, Patio Living, and Stock Tanks)

The Texas rule of three: Wear, Apply, Remove (W-A-R).

• Wear long sleeves/pants at dawn/dusk.

• Apply EPA-registered repellent.

• Remove standing water every 5–7 days (gutters, tires, toys, birdbaths, animal trough rims). Use larvicide (e.g., Bti “dunks”) where water can’t be drained. Texas Health Services+1

Why now: Cities across Texas detect mosquito pools positive for West Nile each summer; prevention at the home lot level matters. MySAMidland Reporter-Telegram

City vs. Country

• City: Patrol patio drains, yard drains, and potted-plant saucers. McKinney Texas

• Country: Manage water in troughs/stock tanks (skim floating debris, consider Bti where appropriate), fix leaky hydrants; keep vegetation trimmed where adults rest. Texas Health Services

Fire Ants (Because… Texas)

A “Two-Step” neighborhood approach works best:

1. Broadcast a bait (indoxacarb, hydramethylnon, spinosad) when ants are foraging, spring and/or fall.

2. Treat nuisance mounds that remain. Community-wide timing reduces reinfestation and saves money. fireant.tamu.eduTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Servicelubbock.tamu.edu

Scorpions (Hill Country & Beyond)

Reduce clutter (rock/wood piles), seal cracks/weep holes, repair screens, and trim vegetation away from the house. If you’re actively finding scorpions, a labeled perimeter treatment to entry points plus exclusion is the standard recommendation. Blacklight checks at night help find them for removal. schoolipm.tamu.edutscra.orgMidland Reporter-Telegram

Shopping List: What Texas Homeowners Actually Use

• ¼-inch hardware cloth (vents, soffits), copper mesh or stainless steel wool, exterior sealant, and door sweeps. Utah State University Extension

• Tamper-resistant rodent bait stations (if using baits), plus multiple snap traps. Texas A&M AgriLife

• Cockroach gel baits (indoxacarb/fipronil/abamectin) + IGR (hydroprene/pyriproxyfen). extensionentomology.tamu.eduUS EPAschoolipm.tamu.edu

• Bti mosquito larvicide for non-drainable water, EPA-registered repellents. Texas Health Services

When to Call a Pro

• You’re still catching rodents after 2–3 weeks of sealing + heavy trapping.

• German cockroaches persist despite good baiting/IGR rotation.

• You can’t safely place rodenticides or identify electrical/plumbing entry points.

• You need attic/soffit screening beyond DIY skills. (Ask about IPM-based service plans, not “spray and pray.”) US EPA

Quick Checklists

Monthly

• Walk the exterior: new gaps? gnaw marks? droppings? Refresh seals/sweeps. CDC

• Yard water patrol: dump, scrub, or Bti-treat. Texas Health Services

Seasonal

• Spring/Fall: neighborhood fire-ant baiting; prune trees off rooflines; recheck soffit/attic screens. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Late Summer: step up mosquito prevention; verify window/door screens. Texas Health Services

Final Word from Preferred Properties of Texas

Whether you’re on a shaded city lot in Stephenville or a spread out in Erath County, the same formula wins: seal + clean + monitor + target. A few weekend projects now can save thousands in repairs later—and keep your investment performing like an asset.

Resources & Further Reading (Texas-Focused)

• CDC – Rodent control, sealing, and safe cleanup (Apr. 8, 2024; Jan. 9, 2024). CDC

• CDC – Hantavirus prevention. CDC+1

• Texas A&M AgriLife – Rodents (exclusion sizes, bait station safety). extensionentomology.tamu.eduTexas A&M AgriLife

• National Park Service – Rodent Exclusion Manual (door sweep and ¼-inch standards). Utah State University Extension

• StopPests – Rodent exclusion techniques (¼″ mice, ½″ rats; common entry points). stoppests.org

• Texas A&M AgriLife – Cockroach IPM (bait placement, IGRs, rotation). extensionentomology.tamu.edu

• EPA – Product labels & IPM (use as directed; IPM philosophy). US EPAUS EPA

• Texas DSHS – Mosquito control (WAR: Wear, Apply, Remove; use larvicides for standing water). Texas Health Services+1

• West Nile seasonal updates in Texas (why yard-level prevention matters). MySAMidland Reporter-Telegram

• Texas Imported Fire Ant Project (two-step, actives, neighborhood coordination). fireant.tamu.eduTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Servicelubbock.tamu.edu

• Scorpion prevention and entry-point fixes (weep holes, clutter, perimeter focus). schoolipm.tamu.edutscra.org