Any uninvited pest in your home is bad news; however, having rodents in your home can spell disaster. Rodents, such as mice and rats, can cause immense amounts of damage to both your home and personal health.
Home Invading Rodents
Two typical home-invading rodents in the Birmingham area are mice and rats. These two rodents are often grouped together and misidentified as one another. However, these two rodents behave differently, so it is essential to identify and distinguish mice from rats.
- Rats are larger than mice, growing seven to nine inches in length, while mice are usually only two to four inches. It may be difficult to distinguish between a mouse and rat by size if they are not fully grown. Because of this, you can't rely on size alone but need to take appearance into account.
- Mice have a pointy, triangular snout, whereas rats have a blunt snout.
Rats can vary in color from white, gray, brown, and black. Rats will also leave grease marks on surfaces they rub against. Mice typically are brown, white, or gray. - Mice also have large floppy ears and long whiskers.
- Rats have a thick, hairless tail.
- As far as behavior goes, rats are more cautious while mice are curious.
- Mice are known for their scurrying and squeezing into small openings.
Note: There are several different species of both rats and mice you may encounter in the area. Mice species include deer, house, and field mice. While rat species consist of Norway and roof rats. Although there may be variations in appearances between each rodent species, the information above will help you distinguish between mice and rats as a whole.
Destruction Caused By Rodents
Rodents as a whole are known for their constant gnawing and chewing on anything in their path. Some damage rodents may cause is to your belongings. They can chew through clothing, furniture, and carpets. Although item damage is inconvenient and unwanted, it may not compare to the dangerous damage rodents can cause to your home's structure. Rodents can and will chew through wires, drywall, insulation, and piping. Damage caused by rodents can add up quickly as they have a rapid reproduction rate and will use materials from your home to build nests. The sooner you can stop rodent damage, the less costly repairs will be and the smaller number of rodents you will have to deal with.
Health Hazards Caused By Rodents
One of the main reasons a rodent will enter a home is to search for food. Mice and rats will chew through unopened food containers, get into used products, and contaminate whatever they encounter. If a rodent contaminates your food, one of the bacterial diseases you can contract is salmonella.
Other sources of health concerns when it comes to rodents is from their urine and feces. These diseases include:
- Hantavirus
- Leptospirosis
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
- Plague
- Rat-bite fever.
Diseases can be contracted from direct contact with, eating or drinking food that has been contaminated by, or breathing in dust contaminated with rodent feces and urine. Suppose you suspect your home has been contaminated by rodents. In that case, it is best to inspect all food packaging for damage and get rid of open containers.
Combating a Rodent Infestation
The safest, most effective way to deal with rodent infestations is to call the experts at Havard Pest Control. Don't let pests take over your Birmingham home; let Havard Pest Control use their proven control solutions to keep your home clean and pest free.
Contact Havard Pest Control online or by phone today!