Rodents and Diseases They Carry

The Damage Rodents Can Cause to Your Home

When we think of the damage rats and mice cause, we often just associate it with a tiny hole in the wall. This is far from the reality of things. These pests have front teeth that don't stop growing through their life which causes them to have an incessant need to chew. Rodents will often burrow into the walls of your home to create their new home. To do this they'll chew through whatever material they find suitable which will most likely be the support beams of your home. Throughout their travels, they'll gnaw on anything they find which extends to the electrical cables. While the support beams are an obvious bad sign the electrical can often seem like not that big of a deal when it really is. The major concern with the electrical wires is an unseen fire hazard. If you notice signs of rats or mice, be sure to get an inspection to avoid any structural or electrical damage.

What Diseases Rodents Carry

We often hear about some of the diseases rats and mice carry into your home, but do you really understand the health risks associated with them? Not many of us really do and that's perfectly fine! One of the more well-known ones we've probably all heard of is the hantavirus which causes respiratory issues. It's not all that common anymore but we feel it's worth a mention. These rodents can also carry Leptospirosis which can cause similar symptoms to the flu. One of the other notable mentions is Plague. This sickness can cause fever, headache, chills, and more. No one wants to get sick let alone from pests taking up free residents in your home. We advise having a regular inspection to prevent a problem and avoid these illnesses altogether.

How to Prevent Rodents

Even with preventative treatments, it's always best to do what you can on your end to prevent these critters from getting in. You can start by inspecting the foundation and windowsills of your home and patching any possible entry points up. You'll also want to limit the sources of food they have available. You can do this by sealing dry food and pet food as well as keeping your eating areas clean. If you have a bird feeder with seeds in it, you'll want to put it as far away as possible from your home since the seeds are an easy attractor for these rodents. None of this is 100% guaranteed to keep rodents out, but with regular preventative treatment and your part rodents will be hard-pressed to get in.

We hope this article on how rodents can cause damage to your home and how you can prevent their entry. If you notice a pest problem don’t wait around and let it fester, give your pest control experts at Root Home Services a call.