Why Leave Rodent Infestations in Albany County up to the Professionals at Thomas Pest Services
Bats have earned quite a place in books, movies, and comics. There are few people who have not heard of Batman or Count Dracula. Bats also have a place in many legends and folklores. In these, bats can symbolize both good and evil. But there is one place bats definitely don’t belong: in your home! When bats get into a home, there is nothing fascinating about them. Nothing at all. They scratch inside walls. They leave their droppings all over the place. They stain walls with the oil from their skin. And they can even bring bat bugs, mites, ticks, fleas, and other parasites in with them. It is never a good idea to allow bats to live in your home, but we probably don't have to tell you that. When bats get into a home, we don't usually have to convince people that those bats have to go. We do, however, have to make a case for why it is a bad idea for an untrained individual to attempt to get rid of bats. Here are a few things you should consider if you're thinking of taking on a bat problem by yourself.
Bats are the number one threat for rabies in the United States. Though it is rare for a bat to bite a person, bats that are infected with rabies can be extremely unpredictable and aggressive. This increases that chances of a bite being inflicted. But even a healthy bat can bite when it feels threatened or is handled, which is often what happens when an untrained person tries to remove a bat from their home.
As we mentioned above, when bats get into a home, they leave their excrement everywhere, especially in the areas that they roost. Not only will that create a mess for you to clean up, but it can also make you sick if you're not careful. Bat guano can contain the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum which can cause histoplasmosis pulmonary syndrome if the airborne spores are inhaled.
Health risks aside, the greatest benefit of professional bat control is that you don't have to do the dirty work yourself. Though it can be helpful to take steps to prevent wildlife from invading your home, when you hire the right professional, they'll take care of everything for you! This is called comprehensive bat control services.
What should you expect from comprehensive bat control services?
Comprehensive bat control services should include:
- The removal of bat droppings using specialized HEPA vacuums. These industrial vacuums use high-efficiency filters to bag contaminated materials. This ensures the capture of all spores and prevents additional spores from becoming airborne.
- The sanitization of infected areas. This will further reduce the risk of fungus spores being left behind where dryness and airflow can cause the spores to become airborne.
- The removal of contaminated insulation. If contaminated insulation is not addressed, the job will be complete and the health risk will remain.
- The humane removal of all bats that have invaded your home. Bats are beneficial creatures in nature. With comprehensive bat control services, those bats will be captured and released so they can go back to doing what they do best: eating mosquitoes!
- Most importantly, comprehensive bat control should include exclusion services. Exclusion services include the sealing of the entry points the bats were utilizing to get into your home so that future bat infestations don't occur after your current infestation has been eliminated. There is nothing more frustrating than having to pay for bat services twice! Make sure this exclusion service addresses all openings that are ¼ of an inch or larger as bats can squeeze through very small gaps.
Whether you're dealing with a single bat that has gotten into your New York home or a full-blown bat infestation, Thomas Pest Services can help you get your problem under control! Our comprehensive bat control services include all of the services mentioned above and are performed by our award-winning, QualityPro-Certified team of professionals with a strong track record of success. When it comes to bat problems, don't settle for anything less! If you live in Albany or the surrounding area, reach out to us at Thomas Pest Services.
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Mice and rats are considered by some to be commensal rodents. That is to say, they eat the crumbs that fall from our tables. But, in true commensalism, each creature derives benefits from the other without causing harm. This is not the case with rodents and humans. When rodents get into our Albany County homes and businesses, they can cause a lot of harm. Some of that harm comes in the form of health threats. Some harm comes in the form of property threats. These aren't just annoying pests that climb around in our walls and make bumping noises. That is why it is best to contact Thomas Pest Services do deal with rodents when they get in, or before they get in.
What Problems do Mice and Rats Cause
While a mouse can squeeze through a gap as small as a dime, they sometimes have to create a larger hole in order to get in. While a rat can squeeze through a hole as small as a quarter, they may have to use their strong teeth to make holes large enough to squeeze through or create a hole in a place that doesn't have a hole yet. A common location mice and rats target are the frames around doors and windows. All they have to do is chew a little hole to gain access to the void inside those frames. From there, it is an easy process to get into the much larger wall voids beyond. These holes created by rodents can let rainwater in and lead to water damage, wood rot, mold, and bug infestations.
- Rodents tear up insulation to make their nests. While a single mouse isn't going to cause too much damage, the damage will add up over time as more and more mice take up residence.
- Rodents get into wall voids and chew holes to go from those voids into food-storage areas. As they chew, they can sever live wires and cause a fire to spark. This can result in a complete loss of property and a potential loss of human life.
Rodents leave their droppings as they explore. They will also leave their droppings where they sleep. This makes them terrible houseguests. Their droppings can, directly and indirectly, contaminate foods, food packages, food-prep surfaces, dishes, and more. - Rodents urinate constantly. Over time, and as more rodents populate a man-made structure, the smell of urine becomes more and more noticeable.
- Rodents prefer secluded locations such as attics, storage rooms, and basements. In these places, they can cause damage to personal items that have been placed in storage, items such as furniture, mattresses, clothing, photos, and more. This happens more often than you might think. Rodents are prone to chewing their way into furniture or boxes to make a nest.
- Before a rodent gets into your home, it will travel around outside where it is sure to pick up ticks, fleas, lice, mites, and other parasites. The worst of these are ticks which choose small animals during their larval stage and then hop off to find a larger host in its next stage. An individual mouse can have as many as 100 tick larvae on it. We could go on and on but you get the point. Rodents can cause many issues when they get in. The potential for illness and property damage is quite significant. This is more than enough reason to seek assistance from the rodent control professionals here at Thomas Pest Services, but it isn't the only reason. There is one more you should seriously consider.
Rodent Control is Hard
There are many ways DIY rodent control can fall short. You can set the wrong traps out. You can put them in the wrong locations. You can orient them the wrong way. You can apply the wrong bait. But, the worst part is that you can catch a rodent and think you solved your problem, only to have one or several of the issues listed above continue to plague you.
Don't take risks with rodents. Reach out to Thomas Pest Services and get industry-leading rodent control today. It is important that we all protect our property from rodents and safeguard our health from all of the many threats rodents can pose.
