What is a primary method of preventing rodent infestations?

Regularly cleaning food areas is a primary method of preventing rodent infestations because it minimizes the availability of food sources that attract these pests. Rodents are opportunistic feeders and are drawn to places where they can easily access food. By ensuring that food is stored properly, cleaning up spills and crumbs promptly, and maintaining a tidy environment, the likelihood of attracting rodents is significantly reduced. This method effectively targets the root cause of infestations by eliminating the resources that rodents rely on for survival.

The other options, while they may contribute to reducing rodent presence in some contexts, do not address the primary attractant as directly as maintaining clean food areas does. For instance, electronic repellents may offer some deterrent, but their effectiveness can vary widely and they do not eliminate food sources. Keeping pets indoors may help reduce the risk of some outdoor pests but does not directly impact rodent attraction. Leaving food out for pets creates additional food sources, which could inadvertently attract rodents, undermining efforts to prevent infestations.