When rodents infest a Langhorne area home or business, the outcomes can be catastrophic. Unfortunately, many people are often not aware of how dangerous rodents are to human health and to the state of their property.
Typically, common species like the deer mouse, house mouse, white-footed mouse, roof rat, Norway rat and wood rat and other rodents come indoors searching for food and shelter. Their keen senses of smell and sharp teeth, which enable them to enlarge small openings in the building's exterior, make it possible for them to enter just about any structure.
When this happens, the consequences can be dire. Rodents gnaw on everything, indiscriminately distribute their waste products and have the potential to bite or scratch people in encounters. If ignored, rodent infestations cause massive damage and make people seriously ill.
Although people may be tempted to take a DIY approach that involves placing some traps around the building, this cannot control the rapidly growing rodent population. Instead, it is wise for people who suspect that there is a rodent problem in a building to enlist the help of a pest management professional.
WHAT DO RODENTS LOOK LIKE?
One of the main advantages of working with an exterminator is the quick and certain identification of the infesting species. This is essential to using proper treatments so that the infestation is brought to a swift conclusion.
Deer mice get their name from the gray fur on their backs, which is reminiscent of deer fur. The stomach is covered in white fur. One of their most distinctive features is their rather bulging black eyes. A length of about seven inches is common for full-grown deer mice.
Frequently found living indoors, the house mouse is gray or brown and similar in size to the deer mouse. Their small, round bodies are between five and seven inches long and the eyes are small while the ears are oversized.
Their white feet and stomachs make white-footed mouse identification relatively easy. Their backs are brown or gray with a darker middorsal line. Like this mouse's body, its tail also is bi-colored so that it is lighter on the bottom than it is on the top.
Silky smooth fur that may be black, gray or white is the roof rat's most distinguishing feature. They have large eyes and ears, and their tails are covered in scaly skin. Body lengths of between six and eight inches are common with the tails accounting for an additional seven to ten inches.
The even larger Norway rat may be a total of 16 inches long with the body typically measuring a little over nine inches. This species has a heavier, bulkier body than the roof rat, and their fur is rougher as well. The ears are bald, small and close set while the nose is blunt.
While wood rats may be close in size to Norway rats, they may be distinguished by their furry tails. The Norway rat has a naked, scaly tail. Soft, delicate fur in brown or black covers the wood rat's body, though the fur on their feet and stomachs may be slightly lighter.
WHAT DO RODENTS EAT?
Mice tend to prefer plant and vegetable matter such as cereal grains, seed, mast and fruit. Insects also may form a large portion of their diet.
While rats also will eat these foods, they tend to be more omnivorous, showing strong preferences for meat, fish, lizards and a variety of rodents.
Garbage cans are major attractants for all rodents, so a clean garbage can with a tight lid is a deterrent to foraging activity. The smells that come from kitchens and pantries are irresistible to these species, leading them indoors where they may consume rice, pasta, bread, peanut butter, chocolate, meat, fish, pet food and anything else that is not packaged in glass or metal containers that cannot be gnawed through.
WHERE DO RODENTS LIVE?
Rodents like to stay hidden as much as possible, and their preference for secluded, dark nesting sites bears this out. Darkness does not bother them as their sense of sight tends to be lacking. Their well-developed sense of smell more than makes up for this lack.
In the wild, rodents commonly nest in hollow of trees or beneath rocks. A burrow that another animal has abandoned may be ideal.
Man-made structures offer endless possibilities as far as nesting is concerned. Dark, quiet spots may be found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, wall voids and soffits. Sometimes, nests are discovered beneath the refrigerator or dishwasher in the kitchen or beneath the tub in the bathroom. The back of a closet shelf or a drawer are other likely nesting sites as well as upholstered furniture.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY RODENTS
Rodents use their sharp teeth on a wide array of surfaces and items. When trying to come indoors, they may enlarge a small crack or gap so that they can squeeze through. Once inside, the gnawing continues as the rodent searches for nesting material and food.
This constant chewing behavior causes wholesale damage to construction components as well as plumbing and electrical systems. Major appliances may be rendered useless as rodents gnaw through wiring and cords. This behavior may cause a fire, and rodents are responsible for many plumbing leaks.
Documents, books, linens, upholstered furniture and children's toys are just a few examples of common items that may be damaged or destroyed by rodent infestations.
ARE RODENTS AGGRESSIVE?
Rodent activity is most frequently observed at night. This behavior helps the rodents to avoid the notice of people and other predators. Still, people do inadvertently corner rodents, during which confrontations the animals may react with aggression. Rats and mice use their teeth and claws to defend themselves, sometimes inflicting serious injuries.
DO RODENTS CARRY DISEASE?
With the potential to carry and transmit several dozen diseases, the capacity for making people dangerously ill is the primary reason why property owners arrange for pest control services. Rodents will find food wherever it is kept, and this food is contaminated upon contact. The same is true for any floor, counter, table or desk surfaces on which rodents travel.
This contamination can lead to food poisoning, but this is only the beginning of the health risks. Contact with rodents, wounds suffered in a rodent attack or bites from fleas and ticks that infest rodents all can make people ill. In fact, even breathing in air that is contaminated with aerosolized rodent waste products can be threatening. With diseases such as Lyme disease, Hantavirus, plague and rat-bite fever being possible, it is sensible to act fast when rodent infestations are underway.
HOW TO DETECT RODENTS
Signs of a rodent infestation include the following:
• Rodent droppings found anywhere indoors • Hearing squeaking behind walls • Discovering gnaw or scratch marks on items and surfaces • Tiny rodent footprints evident on dusty surfaces • Finding grease stains on walls
HOW TO PREVENT RODENTS
To help protect against rodent problems the following measures should be taken:
• Eliminate gaps in the building's exterior • Change food storage practices • Keep garbage cans free of food residue • Reduce clutter • Keep kitchen and dining areas clean
HOW TO TREAT FOR RODENTS
Successful rodent control typically involves a series of steps, including trapping, poison baits, along with proper species identification.
Those who suspect a rodent problem should contact Newtown Termite & Pest Control. Our experienced pest control professionals know how to inspect a structure to determine the type and scope of the infestation involved. They will then execute the appropriate plan of action to resolve the specific rodent issue plaguing your Langhorne area home or business while identifying entry points to help protect against future problems.
