When rodents find their way onto your property or even into your home, the results are often more than just annoying. These critters can squeeze through even the smallest of holes in your roof soffits or the siding on your home, and once inside they quickly set out to nest and reproduce. Here’s what you need to know about rodent infestations to keep you, your family, and your home safe.
Types of Rodents in Port St. Lucie
The critters most commonly found inside Treasure Coast homes include:
- Squirrels – As the largest of the most common rodents we see, squirrels can do a lot of damage when left alone in your walls or attic. They commonly chew on things like insulation, wiring, and wooden structures – resulting in expensive damage.
- Mice – Don’t let their small size fool you, if mice are left alone to nest, they can almost triple their size in a matter of weeks. The larger your infestation grows, the harder it will be to get them out.
- Rats – They love your attic because it’s safe and warm, and has plenty of nesting materials for them. Unfortunately for you, those materials are hard to get to, so rats need to chew through your drywall and other obstacles to rip it out.
The most likely place to find rodent infestation is in your attic. But wall voids, areas behind kitchen appliances, inside cupboards are all favorite rodent hiding spots.
Signs of Rodent Infestations
Common signs of a rodent infestation include:
- Droppings– often the first sign of an infestation, rodent droppings tend to be dark in color, with rat, mouse, and squirrel droppings being about the size of a grain of rice.
- Chewing marks– rodents have teeth that must be trimmed continuously to prevent overgrowth, so you will find gnaw marks on personal items and cables
- Scratching noises-rodents scurry around in attics, crawl spaces, under floorboards, and anywhere else they can get into
- Tracks– rodents don’t have good eyesight and tend to use the same paths to get around your house, so you may find dark marks or smudges along walls and floorboards
- Nests and burrows– rodents build these with organic or man-made materials, such as newspapers, to shelter their young
- Ripped up materials like cardboard, paper, insulation, or other nesting materials
- Bite marks or holes in food packaging
Rodent removal has to be a priority in your home. Rodents are dangerous pests that lurk in many areas of homes and businesses. They can remain hidden and hard to spot for a long time until their population grows to higher levels. When this occurs, it puts you and your family at a high risk. It’s important to recognize the risks of a rodent infestation and to take action immediately to rid your home of unwanted and dangerous rodents.
Why Are Rodents So Dangerous to You?
Rodents of all types (mice, rats, and other varieties) are one of the highest risk pests that invade homes. What makes them specifically dangerous is the risk of the diseases that they carry. They carry a variety of parasites and diseases that are very hazardous to humans. This includes salmonellosis, rat bit fever, listeria, and hantavirus. Each of these causes long-term health complications and may be fatal in some cases.
Of course, rodents can also damage your home including damaging your home’s wiring and structural integrity. They can reproduce very quickly and leave you and your family at risk. A few other things you need to watch out for when it comes to rodents includes:
- Rodents carry deadly diseases
- Rodents can be especially harmful to those with allergies
- They can damage your home leading to thousands of dollars in losses and repairs
What Can You Do About a Rodent Infestation?
If you suspect, you have rodents in your home – even if you have only seen them once or perhaps just the evidence they leave behind – it is always best to call a professional to trap and exterminate them. Rodent removal should always be done by a professional like the ones at Critter Control®. Our experts are trained in not only removing the rodents from your home, but also keeping them out for good.