Should I be concerned about rodents?
Should I be concerned about rodents?
Every year, rodents gain access to homes, causing property damage, contaminating food sources, triggering allergies and, in some cases, causing illness/disease. It is estimated that rodents infest approximately 21 million homes in the United States, each year, when the cold weather forces these pests to seek refuge indoors.
What type of damage can rodents cause?
Both mice and rats can cause damage to structures that can be costly to repair. Rodents are constantly gnawing as their teeth never stop growing. This includes damage to duct work insulation, pipes, appliances and woodwork in attic spaces and around window and door frames. Sometimes rodent damage can lead to house fires caused by rodents chewing electrical wires. Rodent nesting materials can ruin your insulation and sheet rock areas from nesting material, urine and droppings too!
How do rodent contaminate food sources?
Rodents can destroy stored food by their gnawing capabilities. Although mice are nibblers and do not eat a lot, wherever they do choose to nibble they will leave behind food particles, urine and droppings. When food is contaminated with rodent feces, it could result in the bacterial food poisoning salmonellosis. Mouse droppings can spread certain tape worms and ringworms. Rickettsial pox and dermatitis may be caused by the bite of the house mouse mite, which is found wherever there are mice present. Most well-known, hantavirus can be transmitted through contaminated food, or the breathing of airborne particles of urine, droppings, or saliva. Hantavirus occurs when dried urine, droppings or nesting materials are ingested, or introduced into broken skin or body orifices (rubbing of the eyes, nose, or mouth, with a hand that has been in contact with contaminated food, dust, or nest material).
What type of allergies can rodents trigger?
Mouse allergies can contribute to asthma attacks. In a Johns Hopkins University test of almost 500 asthmatic children in homes that contained mouse allergens, one-fifth were sensitive to mice.Rats produce three types of allergens: dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine. When rats groom themselves, their saliva is spread on their skin and fur. They can also pick up urine on their feet or other parts of their body. As these allergens dry and flake off, they can become airborne. They can then land on furnishings where they can stay for years.
Thomas Pest Services has been solving rodent and insect problems for those that live, work and play in the Capital Region and surrounding towns like Chatham, Schenectady, Latham, Saratoga Springs and Queensbury with third generation experience. Rodent removal is serious and Thomas Pest Services is licensed in getting rid of rodents, contact us via phone at 1-877-518-2847, via web for a free estimate, Facebook or Twitter!
