Rodents
Are rodents gnawing away in your home or business? If so, you should be concerned?
The meaning of the word rodent is “to gnaw or chew.” Rodents are well equipped to carry out this activity with their sharp, incisor-like teeth. The most common rodent pests are the house mouse, Norway rat and roof rat. Rodents may live mainly outdoors in spring and summer; but in fall and winter, they move inside to obtain warmth and moisture. If rodents enter your home or business, they are much more than a nuisance.
What about health concerns?
Rodents can present serious health, economic and safety concerns. Rodents and their parasites carry numerous diseases. Every year they contaminate and destroy millions of dollars worth of property, food and other goods. The number one household rodent pest throughout the United States is the house mouse. Norway and roof rats are also troublesome and threatening pests that spread disease. Their droppings and urine contaminate surfaces and food items. Fleas and mites are the primary parasites associated with rodents and have also been known to spread diseases.
What about damage and economic concerns?
Mice and rats can cause extensive damage to your property and its contents, whether it is residential or commercial. Rodents are particularly destructive in agricultural and food processing facilities because of contamination of food and feed items with their urine and droppings. Since the primary activities of a rodent are gnawing and chewing, computer cables are frequently damaged and countless electrical fires have been directly attributed to rodents.
What are the signs of rodents?
Droppings are the most common signs of rodents and can be found where they travel. One house mouse can produce up to 500 droppings in one day. Indications of rodent activity are rodent tracks in dust, smudges on the walls near floor level, worn paths or runways along baseboards and around rafters and worn paths or runways going to and from ground burrows. Also, look for signs of gnawing and unexplained damage to wood, carpeting, screen doors, furniture, upholstery and wiring.
