At first glance, rodents do not seem dangerous. Even if you are deathly terrified of these pests, you might still not have a rational reason why. But are rodents as dangerous as people think they are? This is what we will be discussing today. If you have a few minutes and would like to learn a bit about the furry pests invading homes around Tyler, here are a few things you should know.
Common Home-Invading Rodents
Around Tyler, we have a fair amount of rodent species. We have coypu, eastern gray squirrels, house mice, roof rats, fox squirrels, brown rats, prairie dogs, and more. Fortunately, not all rodents invade homes. In our area, the two most common home-invading rodents are mice and rats.
The reason why these two pests are the most common is simple; they have not only figured out that living inside homes is more comfortable than living outdoors but also perfected the art of invasion. No other rodents are as good at chewing, squeezing, or sneaking their way into homes as rats and mice are.
The Dangers Of Rodents
Even if you are terrified of mice and rats, it can still be hard to believe these pests are dangerous, especially considering that they are kept as pets and sold at practically all pet stores. The thing is, pet rodents are a lot different than pest rodents. Pets are kept in a sanitary environment, fed healthy foods, and kept clean.
This is not the case for pests. When rats and mice are allowed to roam freely, they tend to consume things that have expired or that no creature should ever eat, sleep in their filth, and generally pay no mind to their hygiene. Often this leads to these rodents picking up several dangerous disease-causing organisms. Organisms that, when brought into homes, are then spread to humans.
Fleas and ticks are other problems that often go hand in hand with rodent infestations. These smaller parasitic pests hop onto rodents outside and ride with them wherever they go, which includes your home. Once inside, these blood-feeding pests hop off and infest carpets, furniture, or your pets.
Rodents are Destructive
If you thought we were done with the problems rodents cause, we apologize, but we have yet to talk about these pests chewing habits. Around homes, rodents use their sharp teeth to gnaw unsightly marks on furniture, chew holes through walls, break into pantries, ravage cereal boxes, sever electrical wires, and severely damage plumbing. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how this type of behavior could be detrimental.
8 Great Prevention Tips For Rodents
- Thoroughly inspect your home’s exterior. Seal any gaps, cracks, and spacing you find using a caulking gun and some steel wool.
- Repair damage to shingles, siding, the roofline of your home, and its chimney.
- Eliminate clutter and debris from around your property so rodents have fewer places to hide and build a shelter.
- Address moisture problems around your home by fixing leaky pipes, repairing broken gutters, and running a dehumidifier indoors.
- Clean your home regularly and thoroughly.
- Store leftover and repackage pantry foods into rodent-proof containers.
- If you own pets, clean out their food and water bowls after every meal.
- Hire a pest control professional to implement effective rodent prevention around your property.
If you are looking for a reliable pest control provider that is trusted by Tyler residents and business owners, look no further than Pest-Pro Services, Inc.
Our staff has the training and equipment needed to quickly eliminate rodents and put in place long-term solutions to keep these pests out. Contact us today to learn more.