Rodent Control

Are Rats & Mice Dangerous?

Rats and mice are the last pests you want in your home or business. Not only do they cause a serious amount of property damage (including structural damage and house fires) but they are also known to carry and transmit over 35 different diseases worldwide. Those who come into direct contact with rodents, their urine, or their feces are at risk of contracting serious illnesses and diseases.

Some of the diseases that can be either directly or indirectly transmitted by rodents include:

• Plague
• Rat-bite fever
• Hantavirus
• Salmonellosis
• Tularemia
• Lyme disease
• Colorado tick fever
• Babesiosis

How Do Rats & Mice Get In?

Each winter, upwards of 20 million homes are invaded by rodents, leaving many home or business owners wondering how on earth rats and mice were able to get inside. Thanks to their incredibly long, flexible bodies, rats and mice can fit through any hole, crack, or crevice the size of their head. Often, mice can fit through holes as small as the size of a dime and rats can fit through holes as small as the size of a quarter. That makes entering a home or business quite easy for them!

Signs of a Rodent Infestation

Some rodents, such as mice, are quite curious, which makes them more likely to come out when people are around. Rats, on the other hand, will do just about anything to avoid contact with humans, making a rat infestation more difficult to identify. For help determining if you have a rodent infestation, we’ve broken down some of the most common signs.

You need to schedule rodent control if you discover:

• Sounds: Rats and mice tend to nest and hide away in hard-to-access areas such as behind walls or in attics. While you can’t see them, you can most likely hear squeaking, tapping, or scampering sounds coming from your walls or attic.
• Odors: Rodents spread bacteria and leave behind their urine and droppings wherever they go, which can result in a very strong musty odor in the home or business. If your home or business smells funky and you are struggling to find the source, it would be a good idea to schedule a pest inspection.
• Droppings: Rats and mice leave lots of droppings behind everywhere they go, so discovering small, dark, shiny droppings with pointed ends is usually a good sign that your home or business is infested.
• Property damage: Rodents are notorious for causing a lot of property damage. Holes chewed through walls, grease marks along walls and countertops, chewed up food packaging, and exposed wires that have been gnawed on are all signs of damage caused by rodents.

For same-day service and a free quote, call (800) 836-3089 today.