Austin Rodent Control

Why are Rodents So Dangerous?

Too many people are simply unaware of just how dangerous mice and rats are in a home. However, rodents carry a number of diseases that are fatal for humans. Salmonellosis, rat bite fever, and the Bubonic plague are just a few examples of the types of diseases rodents can transmit to people. Studies have even shown that the amount of people allergic to mouse droppings equals the amount of people allergic to dust and mold. A rodent’s urine, as well as their droppings, can also trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals.

Although the health problems associated with rodents are bad, they are not the only dangers rats and mice pose. Most rodents are scavengers and they eat a lot, consuming nearly anything they come across. As they search for food, rodents will rip open packages, chew through certain containers, and destroy anything that is nearby. Not only will rodents eat the food within a home, but as they move through spaces looking for it, they also contaminate everything they touch.

It is frustrating when rodents destroy the contents of a pantry or the cupboards in a home. Unfortunately, rats and mice will destroy much more than those items as they make their way through a home. Rodents will gnaw through anything that stands in their way, or that will make good material for building their nest. Homeowners often find that rodents have destroyed their insulation, wallboards, wooden areas of the home, and even cardboard.

This type of destruction is extremely damaging to a home, but it also increases the chance of electrical fires. It has been shown that approximately 25 percent of house fires are caused by rodents.

How to Prevent Rodents in the Home

Clearly, rodents in a home pose a risk to anyone in that space. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that homeowners do whatever they can to prevent rodents from entering the home. Some of the top rodent prevention tips are as follows:

• Regularly repair any damage: Rodents are much more likely to invade a home when there is damage such as leaks and holes in the foundation, around utility holes, and in other spaces. Mice and rats may use these damaged structures to build a nest, while a weaker structure overall makes it fairly easy for rodents to get inside the structure.
• Keep up with yard maintenance: An unmaintained yard will make it very easy for rodents to get inside a home. Bushes, ivy, long grass, and untrimmed trees provide many opportunities for rodents to take shelter. These grassy areas also make it much more difficult to see rodents that may enter the home. Lastly, untrimmed trees and ivy will act as a bridge to your home, allowing rodents to use them to access the cracks or siding of your home, eventually making their way inside.
• Proper food storage: People sometimes think nothing of leaving food out on the counter, or leaving a large bag of pet food out in the open. Rodents, though, enter indoor spaces looking for food and shelter. When these food items are not stored properly, it does in fact make it easier for rodents to infest a home.
• Proper garbage storage: Much of the garbage in a household is made up of food waste. Even empty packages and containers that once held food are going to be attractive to rodents. Always keep garbage in containers that have a tight lid and try to store garbage in a garage, shed, or other area that is not directly in the home.

While the above prevention tactics are useful, they are never a guarantee that rodents still will not enter a home. For this reason, it is still important that all homeowners know how to spot an infestation when one develops.

Detecting an Infestation

Seeing a rat or mouse in your home is always a sign that an infestation has already developed. However, rodents are skittish, and will not generally come out of their nests or hiding areas when humans are present. Fortunately, there are other signs you can watch for, and these include:

• Noises: Mice and rats often use the walls of a home to get around the space undetected. As they move throughout the walls, it is common to hear the sound of scampering feet or shuffling noises in the walls and ceilings.
• Droppings: Droppings, or feces, are one of the most common signs of rodents in the home. It is also not uncommon to find urine stains on ceilings and on the walls.
• Foul odors: Rodents are filthy creatures and they smell unpleasant. When they enter a home, that odor comes with them. Also, rodents often die within the walls of a home and when they do, their bodies will decay and start to smell.

Call Us for the Best Rodent Control Today

Rodents are unpleasant, but you should never try to handle a problem on your own. At Stride Pest Control, our rodent control experts will inspect your property to identify the problem, and then we will get rid of it as quickly as possible. Call us today at (210) 547-8410 or contact us online to request a free consultation.