Any homeowner knows that rodents are a real nuisance, but did you know they could be dangerous as well? The danger that rodents pose to your home ranges from minor damage to severe illnesses. Therefore, before you think the mice in the attic are cute you should be aware of what professionals have to say about these furry creatures. This is especially so for major hubs such as Sydney, Australia. Cities such as this one receive many imports from other countries where rodent transmitted diseases flourish.
Mice, rats, squirrels and other hairy rodents can do quite a bit of physical damage to your home. Once they find their way into your home, they will chew their way into any area that looks appealing to them. One of the huge dangers of this is the possibility that they will chew threw electrical wiring causing a short.
In addition to chewing holes everywhere, rodents can also ruin your home through the stench of their droppings. They drop as they walk and many times this will be in highly inaccessible areas, like your walls, appliances, and crawl spaces. While it takes a serious infestation to create this problem if you note the insane rapidity with which they breed it does not take that long to become seriously infested.
The danger of rodents in your home extends to the many diseases they carry. Potential diseases that rodents carry include:
Rickettsial Pox- A disease similar to chicken pox transmitted from the mites commonly found on rodents.
Food Poisoning- Specifically salmonella is contracted when food comes into contact with saliva, urine, or droppings of rats and mice.
Parasites- Many parasites can be transmitted to humans, particularly tapeworm and Trichinosis.
Hantavirus – Once thought to be rare this disease is showing up in rodents all over Australia. This serious and potentially fatal disease is spread through inhalation of dust that contains urine, saliva, or droppings. Direct infection from bites is also possible.
Rat bite fever- This is rare disease, generally only transmitted through a bite.
Plague- Another rare and old disease that is re-emerging. It is generally transmitted by fleas that piggyback on an infected rodent.
Now that you know some of the dangers let us look at some possible solutions to keep you and your home safe from the dangers that rodents pose.
The first thing you must do is seal up cracks around pipes, windows, and doors. Even the smallest crack can allow entrance to your home for many rodents. An inexpensive tube of caulking will go a long way toward this end.
One of the best weapons you can have is a natural predator. Cats are a good natural solution to a rodent problem.
Traps, sticky boards, and poisons are also steps that you can take to rid yourself of the danger of rodents in your home. If you have children or pets however care must be taken to ensure that the poison is kept out of their reach. Do not use poisons if you have a cat as the animal may become poisoned through contact with an affected rodent.
If you have seen one or two rodents then you have a minor issue that you should be able to take care of on your own, however if you have a larger infestation or live in an area of Sydney that is prone to other pests like termites you might want to consider seeking professional help and having your house checked for other pests at the same time.
If you’re concerned about rodents and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for assistance with professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.
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