🐭 Keep Rodents Out of Your Lanai: What Attracts Them and How to Stop Them

Nobody wants to share their lanai with uninvited guests — especially mice or rats. These pests can chew holes through your screens, leave droppings, and cause costly damage. The good news is that most rodent problems can be prevented with a few smart steps and a little awareness about what attracts them in the first place.

🌿 What Attracts Mice and Rats to Your Home or Lanai

Florida’s warm weather makes lanais a perfect hiding spot for small animals. Here are some of the biggest attractants:

• Food and pet food: Even small crumbs or a bowl of dog food left outside can draw rodents in.

• Standing water: Dripping hoses, birdbaths, and water bowls are ideal drinking sources.

• Clutter and storage: Cardboard boxes, pool toys, cushions, or stored furniture make perfect nesting spots.

• Certain plants: Dense landscaping like hibiscus, bougainvillea, palm clusters, and fruit-bearing plants can provide cover and food sources for rodents. Citrus trees and bird feeders are also major attractions.

Once they find shelter nearby, they often chew small holes in your lanai screens or squeeze through existing gaps to get inside.

🚫 How to Keep Rodents Away

Keeping your outdoor space clean and sealed is the best defense. Here’s what you can do:

1. Remove food sources. Keep all pet food and bird seed indoors, and clean up crumbs or spilled feed right away.

2. Trim vegetation around your Lanai. Cut back bushes and trees at least 2–3 feet away from your cage to reduce nesting spots.

3. Seal entry points. Inspect your screens for holes, and check around the base of your lanai for gaps or cracks where pests could squeeze through.

4. Use natural repellents. Peppermint oil, vinegar, and ultrasonic repellents can help deter rodents from returning.

5. Schedule a professional inspection. If you’ve noticed chewed screens or signs of rodents, it’s important to act fast before they cause further damage.

🧰 Call The Lanai Guys for Help

At The Lanai Guys, we specialize in lanai screen repair and full rescreening across Cape Coral and Southwest Florida. If mice or rats have chewed holes in your screens, we can replace or reinforce the panels and inspect for any other weak points.

We’ll help you protect your home, your family, and your outdoor space — so you can enjoy your lanai without unwanted visitors.

📞 Call 239-522-2378 or visit www.thelanaiguys.com today for your free inspection and estimate.