Any homeowner knows that rodents are a real nuisance, but did you know they could be dangerous as well? The danger that rodents pose to your home ranges from minor damage to severe illnesses. Therefore, before you think the mice in the attic are cute you should be aware of what professionals have to say about these furry creatures. This is especially so for major hubs such as Sydney, Australia. Cities such as this one receive many imports from other countries where rodent transmitted diseases flourish.
Mice, rats and other hairy rodents can do quite a bit of physical damage to your home. Once they find their way into your home, they will chew their way into any area that looks appealing to them. One of the huge dangers of this is the possibility that they will chew threw electrical wiring causing a short.
In addition to chewing holes everywhere, rodents can also ruin your home through the stench of their droppings. They drop as they walk and many times this will be in highly inaccessible areas, like your walls, appliances, and crawl spaces. While it takes a serious infestation to create this problem if you note the insane rapidity with which they breed it does not take that long to become seriously infested.
While there are very few diseases that transfer directly from rodents, rodents carry mites and fleas and other parasites that DO carry diseases that can cross over to humans.
Rickettsial Pox - This disease is carried by rodents, insects and pests like fleas and mites and is similar to chicken pox.
Salmonella - Food poisoning is a common problem when food comes in contact with saliva, urine or droppings of rats and mice.
Tapeworms and trichinosis - These parasites and many others thrive under the conditions found in a rat infested house.
The Hantavirus - This is spread when dust containing rodent droppings or urine is inhaled. It is potentially deadly and whilst once thought to be a rare disease it is making a recent comeback.
Rat-bite fever - This is a rare disease and as the name suggests is transmitted through a bite from a rodent.
Plague - Another rare and old disease that is re-emerging. It is generally transmitted by fleas that piggyback on an infected rodent.
Now that the threat is a bit more real, let's look at countermeasures.
First, seal up cracks around pipes and windows and doors. You would be amazed at the size of a hole that a mouse can squeeze through - they have very loose skins and sleek fur for just this thing. A couple of caulking guns can go a long way towards keeping your house free of rodents. You should also take measures to avoid having lots of clutter on the floor (things rodents can scurry through) and open food out.
One of the best weapons you can have is a natural predator. Cats are a good natural solution to a rodent problem.
Traps, sticky boards, and poisons are also steps that you can take to rid yourself of the danger of rodents in your home. If you have children or pets however care must be taken to ensure that the poison is kept out of their reach. Do not use poisons if you have a cat as the animal may become poisoned through contact with an affected rodent.
If you only have a few unwanted rodents running through your house then the aforementioned methods will most likely suffice. For larger infestations however it may be wise to call in a professional to ensure that the job gets done quickly, safely and effectively. - 16492
Mice, rats and other hairy rodents can do quite a bit of physical damage to your home. Once they find their way into your home, they will chew their way into any area that looks appealing to them. One of the huge dangers of this is the possibility that they will chew threw electrical wiring causing a short.
In addition to chewing holes everywhere, rodents can also ruin your home through the stench of their droppings. They drop as they walk and many times this will be in highly inaccessible areas, like your walls, appliances, and crawl spaces. While it takes a serious infestation to create this problem if you note the insane rapidity with which they breed it does not take that long to become seriously infested.
While there are very few diseases that transfer directly from rodents, rodents carry mites and fleas and other parasites that DO carry diseases that can cross over to humans.
Rickettsial Pox - This disease is carried by rodents, insects and pests like fleas and mites and is similar to chicken pox.
Salmonella - Food poisoning is a common problem when food comes in contact with saliva, urine or droppings of rats and mice.
Tapeworms and trichinosis - These parasites and many others thrive under the conditions found in a rat infested house.
The Hantavirus - This is spread when dust containing rodent droppings or urine is inhaled. It is potentially deadly and whilst once thought to be a rare disease it is making a recent comeback.
Rat-bite fever - This is a rare disease and as the name suggests is transmitted through a bite from a rodent.
Plague - Another rare and old disease that is re-emerging. It is generally transmitted by fleas that piggyback on an infected rodent.
Now that the threat is a bit more real, let's look at countermeasures.
First, seal up cracks around pipes and windows and doors. You would be amazed at the size of a hole that a mouse can squeeze through - they have very loose skins and sleek fur for just this thing. A couple of caulking guns can go a long way towards keeping your house free of rodents. You should also take measures to avoid having lots of clutter on the floor (things rodents can scurry through) and open food out.
One of the best weapons you can have is a natural predator. Cats are a good natural solution to a rodent problem.
Traps, sticky boards, and poisons are also steps that you can take to rid yourself of the danger of rodents in your home. If you have children or pets however care must be taken to ensure that the poison is kept out of their reach. Do not use poisons if you have a cat as the animal may become poisoned through contact with an affected rodent.
If you only have a few unwanted rodents running through your house then the aforementioned methods will most likely suffice. For larger infestations however it may be wise to call in a professional to ensure that the job gets done quickly, safely and effectively. - 16492
About the Author:
Author: Darren K. Thompson shares expert advice regarding pest control on his website where you can also discover tips to help deal with termite infestations and other household pest problems.
