Why Rodents Are Bad News And How To Get Rid Of Them

Rodents are a common problem for homeowners and businesses. They can enter your home through holes in the walls that you may not even know about, or in some cases, crawl through small cracks in your foundation. Once inside, they will make themselves at home by chewing on almost everything from furniture and wires to food. Rodents also leave waste everywhere they go which contaminates anything it comes into contact with including food and other surfaces (even your own hands!) which is why rodent proofing services are essential.

Rodents carry and transmit serious human diseases

Rodents may be cute, but they’re also quite dangerous. Rodents carry and transmit serious human diseases, including hantavirus and leptospirosis. 

Hantavirus can be contracted by breathing in dust from rodent droppings or urine that’s been dried for at least two weeks. If you have symptoms like fever and malaise, contact your doctor immediately to ask about testing for this virus. The virus itself is incredibly rare: only 887 cases were reported worldwide between 1993 and 2018—but it should still be taken seriously because it can cause fatal respiratory illness if left untreated. 

Leptospirosis is another bacterial infection that’s caused by exposure to water contaminated by rat urine or feces (like swimming pools). It can result in serious symptoms like kidney failure, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or death. The most common cause of leptospirosis occurs after exposure to water sources contaminated by stormwater runoff containing sewage from rats’ nests located near rivers or streams. If you think you have a rodent problem in your home, contact rodent-proofing services that can help you identify the type of rodents that are causing damage to your home. 

Rodent can cause havoc

The droppings left behind by rodents are unsanitary, and they can contaminate food and water sources. Rodent droppings contain many different harmful substances that are toxic to humans. For example, animal feces often have a high concentration of bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning when ingested. Rodents also carry parasites that can be transmitted to humans through rodent feces, such as tapeworms and roundworms (which can cause toxoplasmosis).

Rodents chew on almost everything, causing structural damage that is expensive to repair. Rodents have an insatiable appetite and will gnaw on almost anything. They can chew through these items in many different ways:

Chewing wires – Rodent teeth are so sharp that they can cut through the hard plastic covering of electrical wires causing short circuits or fires that start when the rodent chews into live wires.

Wood damage – Rodents can also chew through wood causing structural damage to floors, walls or ceilings which may be expensive to repair or replace depending on how bad the damage is.

Plastic/metal pipes – If a rodent finds its way into your wall cavity it will most likely chew its way back out again by gnawing away at any pipe work including PVC water pipes leaving you with leaks throughout your home!

Rodents are prolific breeders

Rodents are some of the most prolific breeders in the animal kingdom. In a matter of weeks, a single pair of rodents can give birth to a large family of mice, rats, or other types of rodents. This can be a major problem, as they can quickly overrun a space and cause damage to property. They can also pose a health risk by contaminating food and water supplies with their droppings. 

All of this is why it’s important to take care of rodent problems right away. 

Take action quickly if you think you have an infestation

Keep children and pets away from the area until it has been cleaned up as much as possible. Clean up any food sources in the area where rodents were seen, such as pet food or garbage bins. Do not leave pet food out overnight; store it in airtight containers instead (or better yet, feed pets indoors). Seal up any openings that may be allowing rodents to enter your home. This includes removing gaps around doors and windows by caulking them with silicone caulk if necessary. 

Conclusion

In addition to the harmful effects that rodents can have on your health, they also damage your home. This damage can accumulate over time, leading to increased maintenance costs for homeowners. In the end, it’s best to take preventative measures in order to keep rodents out of your home or prevent them from remaining once they have entered. Contact a pest control specialist for advice on how you can make your home less appealing to these unwanted guests.