During the cooler months, your home provides the perfect sanctuary for small rodents looking to hide away someplace that’s warm. Their instinct for survival will guide them into your home through even the smallest gap – buffers around utility lines, cracks in the foundation, spaces in windows or doors.
And if they can’t find an opening, they’ll simply make one, chewing through wood, siding and insulation to make their way into the warmth of your home. And once inside, they’re more than just a simple nuisance as they scurry around at night. Rodents have been known to chew through electrical wiring, causing a fire hazard. They carry parasites that spread disease, fleas and ticks that endanger your family. And with the damage they can do, you can expect a hefty price tag for repairs if they stay too long.
Types of Rodents We Control:
• Mice
• Rats
• Squirrel
• Moles
• Gophers
Health Risks and Hazards
Different rodents carry different hazards into your home, ranging from the irritating to the truly dangerous. Rats in particular pose a threat, as they are rapid breeders with multiple litters per year. A few of the health risks caused by rats include:
Serious Disease: As history has shown, rats are vectors for some of the deadliest diseases known to man including hantavirus, salmonellosis, and leptospirosis.
Parasites: In addition to the diseases they spread, rats carry fleas and ticks that can spread sickness much further into your home.
Contamination: Their urine and feces can lead to serious contamination, spreading foodborne illnesses and triggering dangerous allergic reactions.
While mice are considered less dangerous to a home than rats, they still pose a serious threat thanks in part to how quickly they can spread throughout the structure. Hazards of a mice infestation include:
Contamination: Like rats, mice are prone to contaminating food sources as they find them in your home. In particular, mice are vectors for diseases like listeria and salmonella. These illnesses result in severe gastric distress, fever, muscle ache, and increased risk of infection, and are particularly hazardous to those who are pregnant.
Respiratory Dangers: Mouse dander and droppings can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks that can be particularly dangerous to children. They are also a vector for hantavirus, which can cause catastrophic respiratory danger.
Structure Damage: As mice are prone to gnawing their way through wood and wiring to search for food and shelter, they can cause severe and sometimes irreparable damage to your home’s structure.
Signs of a Rodent Problem
The signs of a rodent infestation can sometimes take time to develop. A professional can help evaluate the extent of the infestation, but a few indications include:
Damaged Materials in your Home: Look for chewed-up paper or material around your house that could be signs of nesting, or damage to packaging that indicates they are eating your food. You may also notice evidence such as a footprints, tail marks or smudges along walls showing where they have been. Signs of bite damage to wires or other structural elements are a sure sign of infestation.
Unusual Sounds or Smells: Rodents make themselves known through a musky smell or an unpleasant odor in tucked-away areas of your home. You may also hear them scratching or squeaking through the walls. Keep an eye on pets, as they will notice these signs before you do and may become agitated.
Physical Evidence: Droppings or urine stains are a sure sign that an infestation is already underway. Another sure sign is visual confirmation of a rodent – alive or dead. When there is one, there are sure to be more.
The Sloan Pest Control Difference
At Sloan Pest Control, your family’s health and your home’s safety are our top priorities. That’s why we stand behind our effective solution with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a comprehensive exclusion guarantee. Our experts will identify the type of rodent you’re dealing with, provide you with a comprehensive quote covering the exact price you’ll pay for the proposed solution, then get to work. Our humane strategy traps and relocates rodents, allowing us to repair any damage and decontaminate your home fully to protect your loved ones.
