Rodents carry many diseases that can be spread directly to people. They can also spread ticks, fleas, and mites that can transmit diseases.
Food storage areas, warehouses, and other commercial facilities are especially prone to rodent infestations. Commercial properties should make sure to rodent-proof all entry points. Rodent protection can squeeze through spaces the size of a dime, so inspect and seal all cracks and crevices around windows, doors, air vents, and utility lines.
Diseases
Rodents are known to spread diseases through their droppings, saliva, blood and urine. They also serve as hosts for ectoparasites, such as ticks and fleas, which transmit other pathogens. Rodents have been directly linked to over 35 illnesses in humans, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, murine typhus and Salmonella poisoning. They can also contaminate food with their urine and feces, and cause damage to air ducts by gnawing on them.
Rodent gnawing can damage insulation, resulting in higher energy bills and increased risk of fires. Rodents are responsible for millions of dollars in structural damage each year. Look for chew marks, scurrying sounds and debris in attics or crawl spaces. Gnawing can also damage plumbing and wires, leading to water damage and expensive repair bills.
In a natural environment, rodents are important predators and scavengers and keep ecosystems in balance. However, when rodent populations get out of control, they can create serious problems in humans’ homes and businesses.
Keep rodents away from your home by cleaning up yard waste and storing garbage in tightly closed containers. Remove compost piles regularly, and make sure there are at least two feet between your home and any vegetation. Also, store any food in hard-sided plastic containers and close them tightly when not using them. This prevents rodents from gaining access to your foods and creating odors in cupboards.
Food Contamination
Rodent feces and urine contain harmful, disease-causing microorganisms that can contaminate food products. This contaminating effect can happen at every stage of the food supply chain, from the farmer who cultivates the crop to the warehouse or processing plant where the food waits to be shipped out and eventually arrives in your supermarket or restaurant. There are numerous instances where this type of contaminated food has been found in restaurants, grocery stores and other establishments.
Rodents are also pests of food storage facilities and warehouses. They are capable of causing significant damage to the facility, its reputation and its ability to meet deadlines and customer demands. They cause loss of product, damage equipment and may even trigger a recall of the affected product.
Gnawing marks, chewed areas and gnawed wires are common signs of rodent activity. Their teeth never stop growing, and they continually gnaw on hard materials such as wood and plastic to wear them down. Their gnawing can also deteriorate the structural integrity of the building and its contents. In fact, a study found that 20% of unknown fires are caused by wires that have been chewed or damaged by rodents.
To help prevent rodents from finding their way into your home or business, remove sources of food and water. Store all foods, paper products and dry pet food in airtight containers and use metal or glass for storage. Keep garbage cans tightly closed and maintain a clean yard. Remove any items that provide shelter for rodents and seal all entry points with steel wool, caulk or 1/4” x 1/4” metal mesh.
Damage to Property
Rodents can cause significant damage to buildings and their contents. Their gnawing causes structural damage as they chew on wooden beams, foundation materials and other components of homes and commercial structures. They also chew through electrical wires, which can cause fires and lead to expensive repair bills.
Rodents can contaminate food supplies and kitchen equipment by carrying bacteria on their fur, droppings and carcasses. They can also aggravate asthma symptoms in sensitive people. In addition, rodent urine and dander can trigger allergies in susceptible people.
Getting rid of food, water and shelter for rodents will make your property less attractive to them. Clean up areas where they can hide by removing tall grass, weeds and woodpiles. Store food in airtight containers that rodents cannot chew through and keep trash bins with tight-fitting lids on.
Rodents enter homes and buildings through holes in the ground, damaged window frames, gaps around doors and walls, and open vents and utility openings. Properly sealing these entry points with caulk or steel wool can significantly reduce rodent infestations. Regular inspections and maintenance will ensure that these entry points remain sealed.
Keeping rodents out of buildings is essential to protect the health and safety of everyone in your home or business. Contact a pest management professional at the first sign of rodent activity to implement a comprehensive pest control plan and prevent problems from occurring in the future.
Infestations
Rodents are a problem for many kinds of structures, including homes and apartments, office buildings and shopping centers, warehouses and farm and feed storage facilities. They cause serious problems in food handling establishments and result in financial losses and damage to reputation in commercial settings. The gnawing actions of rodents can also cause fires, electrical wiring problems and plumbing damage.
Rodents gain access to structures through open doors, cracks in foundations, soffit openings and roof voids. They also chew through wires, insulation and pipe breakers.
Through the pestemite Regular inspections are the best way to prevent a rodent infestation. Look for gnawed wood, droppings and rodent tracks. Store garbage in rodent-proof containers. Remove piles of newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes and similar items that can serve as rodent nesting material. Keep stoves and countertops clean so that rodent droppings don’t contaminate foods. Keep kitchen drains free of food scraps, and make sure the trash can is tightly sealed.
Before a new structure is built, it should be made as rodent-proof as possible. This includes the construction of concrete floors rather than wooden ones. In occupied buildings, search for holes and seal them immediately to prevent rodents from entering. Small holes can be filled with steel wool and caulk; larger ones can be patched with lath metal, hardware cloth or concrete patching materials.
