Do You Really Have To Protect Your Property From Rodents?
Have you ever been to the pet store? Pet stores are filled to the rim with cute little critters. Cages of tumbling, soft puppies, fluffy kittens, cuddly rats… Do rats really fit in this category? Why is it that the word "rat" does not generally spark warm fuzzy feelings in the heart. Probably because we know how bad it is to have rats and other rodents invade.
Why are rodents a problem when they get inside?
Rodents are not only disturbing to encounter, but they pose some serious threats, both to your health and to your home. Mice and rats are filthy and creepy, they never stop chewing, and they steal stuff while you're sleeping.
Rodents and Parasites
Rodents don't usually come in alone. They bring parasites in with them. Whether you have mice, rats, or squirrels, or some other furry wildlife, you will likely also have trouble with parasites, such as mites, fleas, lice and ticks. Mites, though they cannot live on humans and are not known to transmit disease, can leave itchy red marks that resemble a skin rash. And they can live on your pets. If mites get onto your pets, they may bite numerous times.
Fleas are known to transmit the plague, which can be deadly. But even if having fleas doesn't kill you, they are no fun to have around! While adult fleas live most of the time on an animal, flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are commonly found in the animal's environment, especially in places such as carpeting, bedding and under furniture. Because of this, if you see a few fleas on your pet, there are likely hundreds of eggs and larvae in your home, and in your yard. Fleas will bite anywhere, but are most likely to bite around legs, feet, and ankles where they leave red spots with reddened haloes that are extremely itchy.
Ticks are the worse parasite that rodents can bring into a home. Some ticks carry dangerous diseases, such as Lyme, which can cause serious, life-altering, health problems.
Rodents Bring Disease
When rodents get into a home or business, they don't stay inside all the time. They continue to come and go from filthy places such as sewers, trash heaps, compost piles, dumpsters, and more. And when they do this, they bring all sorts of bacteria back in with them, some of which are known to carry diseases such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, leptospirosis, lymphocytic chorio-meningitis, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, tularemia, and more. Some of these diseases can be contracted by breathing in dust that is contaminated by rodent droppings or urine. Some can be caught by eating contaminated food. Some require contact with a dead, infected rodent carcass, or a bite from an infected animal.
Rodents can damage some, or all, of your belongings.
Part of what makes a rodent a rodent is the fact that they have a set of ever-growing incisors. Since these teeth never stop growing, this means that rodents never stop chewing. Rats and mice and other rodents, if they get into your home, will chew on everything from plastics to wood, from stored items to food packages, and even from bricks to electrical wiring. So they can do quite a lot of damage, especially if they chew on wiring and spark a house fire.
Rodents can cause damage even if they don't get inside.
If rodents do not get inside your home, but only take up residence around your home, they can still cause significant damage to vehicles or other objects. Each year, thousands of vehicles are damaged by mice making nests under car hoods and chewing on wires. They can also cause damage to gardens and fruit trees, or infest areas where animal feed is stored.
Get help with rodent control:
If you are noticing the signs of rodents inside, or outside, your home or business, the professionals here at Thomas Pest Control are standing by to help with proven rodent control services. Life is simply better knowing your property is rodent-free.
