You would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not know what the Kentucky Derby is. This annual race, started in 1875, that pits three-year-old thoroughbreds against each other, is tracked by sports lovers nationwide, and considered by many as the most exciting two minutes in sports. So, as we congratulate American Pharaoh on his win, we ask our Louisville pest control experts what we can learn about household pests from the Kentucky Derby.
Let's talk money: In the Kentucky Derby the top winners share a purse. This is a sum of money that is determined before the race begins. In 1954, the purse was $100,000, which was a lot of money for the time. This year's purse is a guaranteed $2 million. Do you know another place where millions are paid out? Each year carpenter ants cost U.S. property owners millions of dollars in frustrating home repairs. But, that is nothing compared to the billions of dollars termite damage costs to repair.
Variety: Have you ever looked at how many breeds of horses there are in the world? There are a ton of them. Everything from the well known Clydesdale, to the hard to pronounce Xilingol. But, when it comes to racing, you're going to find thoroughbreds, quarter horses, Arabians, paints and Appaloosas. Do you know what else has a lot of breeds? Bugs. Life would be sweet if there were only one type of fly. But in your home you can find many thoroughbreds that want to make your life miserable. The gnat loves to chew on your skin. The fruit fly likes to swarm around your face. The house fly loves to get into your garbage, and then land on your sandwich. And, the cluster fly loves to hang out with dozens of its friends and die on your window sills.
The business of horse racing: Any horse race lover will tell you, horses don't care too much where they take care of their business. Horse manure is an inevitable part of the Kentucky Derby though never mentioned. According to the University of Florida, horse tracks can produce up to 600 cubic feet of manure a day—with or without a race. That's some serious business.
When rats and mice get into attic spaces, wall voids, and eaves, they don't care where they do their business either. This can pose a health risk for families. Rodents are scavengers. And, their feces can carry many harmful bacteria and parasites. When removing mice and other pests from the attic and elsewhere in the house, it is imperative to always disinfect areas where droppings have been left.
If you need to have rodents safely removed from your home or business, or need help excluding the large variety of bugs that can invade, call your Louisville home pest control experts at Action Pest Control. When it comes to protecting your Old Kentucky Home, there's no one better than Action.