Rodents live on properties that offer them food, water, and shelter. A few things around your home and property that may be attractive to rodents include: garden areas, compost piles, pet food, open containers of garbage, outdoor eating areas, bird seed or wild animal feed, bird baths, clogged gutters, wood piles, areas of dense vegetation, or piles of debris. Mice and rats are a year-round problem, but they can become particularly problematic in the late fall as they seek a warm place to overwinter.