Why Fairfax VA Residents Hate Rodents and What To Do About Them
You probably hate rats and other unwelcome rodents just as much as we do at Backyard Bug Patrol. That’s why we took the recent warning from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) seriously. They said that because of the erratic weather we’ve been experiencing, there’s more rodent activity than would normally exist.
“This winter, if you can call it winter, has been so erratic that we’re seeing increases in pest pressure from populations otherwise dormant this time of year. Not only did early season snowfall and cold temperatures across the country drive rodents and cockroaches indoors early in search of food and shelter, but record-high temperatures nationwide in December through January allowed pest populations to sustain activity well past their normal seasonal decline,” said Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., chief entomologist for the NPMA. Read more at PCT Online…
Warmer temperatures this past winter increased the rate of survival for rodents. As a result, we can expect more rodent activity this spring in Fairfax County as well. This would also explain why rodents were found to be the biggest pest concern when it comes to American homes and health. This is according to findings from a study conducted last year by Advanced Symbolics Inc.
As a homeowner, you have lots of good reasons to hate rats, mice, and other rodents. One of them is that they can cause significant damage to your property. This is especially the case during the winter when they move indoors in search of food and warmth. Here’s an example of the sort of damage those small house mice are capable of:
House mice are typically dusty gray with cream-colored bellies and can be found throughout the U.S. nesting in dark, secluded areas within structures. They are excellent climbers and can jump up to a foot high. House mice can cause serious property damage by chewing through materials and have been known to spark electrical fires by gnawing on wires inside homes. Read more at AP News…
Another example is Norway rats, which can gnaw through a variety of materials, including lead pipes and plastic. Not only can these rodents compromise your home’s structural integrity, but they put you and your loved ones at risk of electrical fires. That’s more than enough reason to want to get rid of them, but that’s not all.
Rodents also have the ability to transmit serious diseases. Once rodents go indoors in search of food and shelter, everyone living in the home becomes susceptible to rodent-borne diseases. These range from bacterial illnesses to viruses that could be spread through rodent urine, feces, bites, and scratches, and even dead rodents. Here’s one example:
According to WebMD, approximately 40,000 cases of Salmonellosis are reported in the United States each year. The disease is known to occur worldwide.
The disease spreads when humans eat or drink foods and liquids contaminated by rat or mouse feces. Some other sources of the disease bacteria include meat, fertilizers, water, and pets. The disease is a type of food poisoning that exhibits symptoms such as diarrhea, pain & cramping in the stomach, and fever. Read more at News 9…
Other illnesses include plague, rat-bite fever, rabbit fever, hantavirus, tularemia, Lassa fever, and others.
Rodents have proven that they are much more than an inconvenience. So you’ll be happy to learn that Backyard Bug Patrol provides effective rodent control solutions in Fairfax, VA. Our perimeter rodent control eliminates existing rodents and prevents others from entering your home. Call us today.