Rodents’ biology and habits can make them very challenging to control, and they present a serious menace to your property, be it home or business. If you’re in need of rodent control services, its good to know about what your up against.

RATS

• Instincts:

Rats are instinctively wary of things new to their environment, including rat control measures such as traps and bait, and colonise in attics, burrows, under concrete and porches, in wall voids and other hard-to-reach places.

• Disease:

Rats can harbor and transmit a number of serious diseases. They can also introduce disease-carrying parasites such as fleas and ticks into your home.

MICE

• Access:

They invade your home seeking food, water and warmth.

• Contamination:

Each mouse can contaminate much more food than it eats.

Rodents are warm-blooded mammals that, like humans, can be found throughout the world. They have oversized front teeth for gnawing and check teeth, which are adapted for chewing. Rodents must chew on a variety of items available to them in order to keep a usable length of their front teeth. They cause great damage in and around domestic and commercial properties with many fires and floods attributed to rodents eating through electrical cables and plastic water pipes.

Rodents are prolific breeders! Some species breed year-round, and populations are maintained through constant reproduction. Because of the rodents’ body plan, they are capable of squeezing through spaces that appear to be much too small for them. All such holes should be sealed to prevent entry and reentry of rodents. A Propest professional should be contacted for assistance. Rats and mice are both extremely destructive. A number of species feed on seeds and grains and will destroy stored product within logistics and warehousing facilities. As rodents are incontinent to a degree – Their feces and urine may contaminate surfaces with which they come into contact.

Disease Information

It is not advisable to handle any wild rodent. They are equipped with large teeth and are capable of transmitting a variety of bacteria, viruses and diseases through their saliva, feces and urine. Dead rats and mice should be handles with disposable gloves. If you locate a rodent within your property, it is best to contact a Propest professional for removal and identification. The presence of one rodent within a property could signal an infestation many times bigger than expected and it is only with experience that a Propest professional will be able to assertain the nesessary treatment to control the issue. Keep all children and pets away from the rodent. If cornered, the rodent will bite to defend itself.

Prevention Tips

Prevention methods should be implemented early in order to maintain a rodent-free home. Rodents reproduce rapidly, and small populations become full-blown infestations in very little time. Keep any possible food sources away from rodents. Small crumbs and garbage are popular sources of infestation, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination. Fruits and vegetables should also be stored properly, and resulting waste should never be left in sinks or on counters. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests.

Infestations & Control

Rodents are some of the most adaptable creatures on the planet and can be extremely difficult to exterminate. Rodent infestations can cause considerable damage to infested buildings and local agriculture. Rodents are also known carriers of many diseases and prove a health hazard to humans. Rodent populations grow quickly and steadily. Rodent control is best started prior to infestations. In order to protect your home, garden and health from existing rodent infestations, professional, customized solutions are often necessary. Unified efforts on the part of neighbors can prove extremely effective in preventing infestations. Within apartment buildings and neighborhoods, coordination of prevention measures may include cleaning efforts and landscape alteration.