Sure, most rodents are relatively cute and cuddly-looking, but that doesn’t mean you should pick them up or keep them as pets. Rodents present a variety of dangers and are among the bigger challenges for pest control companies. Let’s review some of the dangers rodents such as mice and rats present and how to ensure they stay the heck away from your home.
Parasites
Rodents play host to a number of parasites, including mites and the dreaded ticks. Mites and ticks carry deadly pathogens.
Germs
Rodents don’t have to harbor parasites to cause trouble. Their urine and feces contain germs that wreak all kinds of havoc on human health. As if that weren’t enough, rodents are capable of depositing hundreds of fecal pellets in the span of a week. They can also urinate in thousands of areas within the same time frame.
Diseases
Rodents carry a whole slew of un-fun diseases, which are transmitted via excrement and direct contact. Examples of the many viruses spread by rodents include rat-bite fever, the hanta virus and oh yeah, PLAGUE.
Property Damage
In addition to making you and your family sick, rodents pose threats to property such as books and clothes.
Tips For Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home
Keeping any and all rodents out of your house may seem like a lost cause, but fear not. There’s plenty you can do to ensure mice don’t take up permanent residence in your home. If you have a cat, you’re off to a great start, as mice and rats aren’t going to venture where kitties are waiting. Depositing fur and even urine-soaked litter in high-traffic rodent areas of your home also helps keep the little twits away.
Other tips include sealing all holes and cracks in your home and checking your foundation for gaps. Never leave food out or keep trash cans with food in them open. Store food in sealed containers instead. Get rid of dense vegetation around your house as well as stacks of firewood against or near the home. Pick up fallen fruit from backyard trees if applicable, and never leave garbage cans uncovered. You’ll attract raccoons and possums in addition to mice and rats.
Have you dealt with a rodent infestation? Share your tail, er, tale of horror in the comments section!
[HA1]Maybe a little more detail here? How do they pose a threat? By chewing these items?