It’s about that time of year again, when the sun starts to set earlier, the cold air sets in, and rodents and pests start looking for shelter indoors for the winter. Unfortunately for homeowners, this is also the season when rodent infestations start to rise! While you may not see rodents often, mice, rats, and are out there in trees and shrubs searching for an opportunity to make a nest in your home for the winter where they will be safe from the elements and predators. If you haven’t had your home inspected by a rodent control specialist this fall, now is the time to do so! Here are 5 reasons why you need rodent control this season:
1. Rodents Move Indoors in the Winter
As we already mentioned, it’s the season for rodent infestations. Cold weather, short days, and a lack of food sources drive rodents indoors where food and shelter are abundant. Unfortunately for you, this means that you may find unwanted houseguests scurrying around your kitchen in the middle of the night. Even in places with mild climates like Southern Nevada, it is more common to find rodents indoors in the later months of the year.
2. Rodents Can Spread Harmful Diseases
Wild rodents are known to carry and transmit numerous diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia, and Salmonella. These diseases can be incredibly harmful to you and your family, especially if the rodents have been in contact with your food source. According to the CDC, rodents in the Western United States have also been known to be carriers of plague, which can be spread by both contact and bites.
3. Rodents Are Destructive Pests
In addition to spreading disease, rodents are incredibly destructive pests. Unlike human teeth, which have roots and stop growing after a certain point, rodents’ incisors will grow continuously throughout their lifetime. As a response, rodents have an instinctive urge to grind their teeth and chew through objects in order to keep the growth under control. Unfortunately, once rodents are inside your home, they will likely chew through drywall, ducts, wires, and just about anything else they can find. This can result in severe damage to your home if left unchecked.
4. Rodents Multiply Quickly
And if disease and destruction were not bad enough, rodents are very well known for their breeding capabilities. A female mouse can have up to 10 litters a year resulting in up to 14 new mice with each litter. When you consider that these rodents reach sexual maturity in just nine weeks, the problem can get out of hand quickly.
5. Rodents Can Learn to Avoid Traps and Poisons
Finally, one of the difficulties with rodent control is that some rodents can be incredibly intelligent, learning to avoid traps and poisons intended for them. By some accounts, rats have displayed signs of being “trap shy” for certain brands of traps. Other accounts have reported that Norway Rats, which are common in Nevada and Arizona, have exhibited behaviors of avoiding food until another rodent has consumed it first. This can make traditional, at-home rodent control incredibly difficult to manage without professional help!
Tri-X Pest Management – Rodent Control Experts
If you notice signs of rodents in or around your home, do not hesitate to call your trusted pest control experts. We can help identify the signs of a rodent infestation and take the necessary steps to prevent rodents from entering your home or removing the infestation altogether.