Warm, wet weather around the country this summer is being blamed for large rodent populations. Typically, rats and mice will seek indoor shelter as the weather turns cooler.

Rodent control experts are predicting rodent activity will reach a two-year high this autumn due to the above-normal temperatures and precipitation that a large part of the country experienced this past summer. These conditions increased vegetation growth and caused the rodent population to thrive outdoors.

As the weather cools, rats and mice are known to migrate indoors. To combat a rodent invasion, representatives at Victor, the company that invented the mousetrap in 1898, recommend rodent proofing residences and businesses using sanitation and exclusion strategies in conjunction with traps and rodent repellents.

"Weather determines the activity of rodents, " says Andrea Cober, category development associate at Victor. "In order to survive, rodents must have adequate food and shelter. Good sanitation and exclusion strategies, along with traps and ultrasonic rodent repellents, ensure the best defense against a rodent invasion."

Minor modification to the interior and exterior of a home can make it much less inviting to rodents. Here are some steps that Cober advises to take to help keep rodents off the guest list.

Place all garbage and food debris in tightly covered garbage containers. Store dry food, pet food and birdseed in rodent-proof areas and sealed containers. Clean areas under stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers where crumbs are often overlooked. Reduce clutter. Discourage rodent burrowing by trimming overgrown vegetation and shrubbery until the ground underneath is visible. And keep firewood away from buildings and elevated at least 18 inches from the ground.

Denying access is an important component in effective rodent control. Mice can pass through a one-fourth- inch opening, while rats are able to squeeze through a one-half- inch opening. Cober recommends inspecting your property for rodent access points and rodent proofing them with materials such as concrete, spray foam, caulk, sheet metal and copper or aluminum mesh.

But even the best housekeeping and exclusion efforts will not prevent all rodents from entering a building. In those cases, Cober advises controlling the population with proper trapping and repelling strategies, including bait traps, ultrasonic traps, glue trays and rodent repellents.

She contends that a common mistake is not using enough traps or control devices, so her recommendation is to place traps at two to three foot intervals in areas of high activity or along walls where rodents primarily travel; and for severe infestations, place traps about one inch apart.