In the cold of winter have you realized you’re not alone. Other denizens share your home with you. Nature is often indoors even though it’s not acceptable indoors. Rodents are destructive disease carrying vermin, not cute animals. Well maybe cute in a detached sort of way, but if they’re not in a cage they should be outside!
Types of Rats, Mice & Rodents
Rodents represent over 40% of mammalian species, about 2277 species in 30 families and 481 genera, hummm, scientifically speaking of course. Not only to they out number us by the thousands, there more different types than anything else out there. That includes us, dog and cats and all of the domestic species.
Rat & Mouse Damage & Diseases
Because there are so many, it is not hard to understand why mice and rats are such a pestilence. They eat our food, nibble holes in our walls and we find their droppings in the most unusual places. Mouse tails ride high but rats are tail draggers. And its not just rats and mice. Many parasitical and viral menaces hitch hike on the rodents. Fleas carry the plague, viral disease like hantavirus also co-habitat with the rats and mice. In fact, the disease carrying potential probably out strips the destruction to home and or cupboard’s contents. However, we are concerned with Rattus norvegicus (Rn) or the sewer rat, also known as the Norway rat. Rattus rattus (R2) is the common house rat, also known as the roof rat. Lastly in Mus musculus (Mm) or mouse. Enough to make you sick, literally. Rodents have fleas, ticks and mites. These carry many diseases. Food and water contamination by rat/mouse excrement and direct contact. As excrement dries it can become airborne and in hailed. And rats bite. They carry directly or indirectly the plague (fleas), Urban typhus (fleas), spotted fever (ticks), scrub typhus (mites), Hantavirus (air-borne fecal matter, and Rat-bite fever (bites).
Rodent Family, Lifespan & Characteristics
Some things to know about or friendly rodents, they are social, nocturnal, good climbers, especially the house rat. They jump good, swim good and can dive. Rats consume 15-30 grams of food and drink about 30 grams of water daily. They reproduce geometrically, about 5-8 litters a year with 5-14 per litter and live in the wild for about a year. Fast reproducers means they can be genetically agile, mutating with resistance to some chemicals in just a few generations.
Rodent Infestation Prevention in Home
It’s important to clean up, make sure food is in protective containers, keep counters clean and cabinet doors closed. Make sure the inside lid in bread drawers are slid shut. You need to deprive rodents of food, harborage (shelter) and inhibit travel. Be sure to wear cloves and facial mask when disposing of dead rodents. Avoid direct contact. Disinfect by spraying a dilute mixture of household disinfectants or a diluted bleach solution. Place in plastic trash bags for disposal. Wash up thoroughly after.
Effective Pest Treatments in Greater Manhattan, & Brooklyn, New York
Professional pest control personnel know the habits of all pests and can safely place any chemical solutions to protect children and pets. In many cases in extreme infestation of the home and out buildings, hiring a pest control company will make it easier. Also, if you have pest control visit on a bi-monthly basis we can stay on top of all the pests of all colors, species and type. Damage and diseases are the primary reasons we need to control, manage or eliminate rodents in our homes. Contact Flash Pest Control to schedule a rodent inspection and custom treatment plan today!
