Perhaps when you think of rodents, the ever-popular Christmas mouse comes to mind, especially this time of year. However, unless they are pets, having rodents around during the holidays is far from a children's tale or cute addition to the season's cheer. Rodents are some of the absolute worst pests to have around the house, and often some of the most surprising. Rodent related expenses are among the most unwelcome, unexpected expenses homeowners in Terre Haute, Indiana face each year. Rodents can get into homes through openings as small as a dime, and considering a single female mouse can quickly become hundreds of hungry intruders, a rodent infestation can very quickly get out of control.
Damages Caused by Rodents
Rodents will first seek out hidden places to live within your home. Your attics, crawl spaces are prime targets for both mice and rats to build their nests once they have moved into your home. Since you aren’t likely to look in these areas often, the rodents can be in your home for a long time before you even notice signs of an infestation. The sooner you find the infestation, the sooner you can take care of it, and the fewer your damages. Common damages caused by rodents include:
- Electrical damages - Rodents chew on insulation and wires in your walls and ceilings. Their teeth grow from the time they are born until the day they die, so they have a need to chew constantly. Not only are electrical damages expensive to repair, but they can be extremely dangerous. Rodents chewing on wires have been known to cause electrical fires.
- Structural damages - Rodents gnaw through wood, furniture, and sheetrock like it’s nothing. They’ll make holes through attics, roofs and chimneys. They can damage your home’s foundation or cause extensive water damage.
- Ductwork damages - Air conditioning units are a prime target for rodents. They chew through the insulated ducts and build a nest inside, reducing the efficiency of the air conditioning and causing potential damage to the equipment. Not to mention, having rodents living inside your ductwork can result in germs being forced into your air supply.
- Contamination - Rodents run across your countertops and floors and leave a trail of urine, feces, and saliva everywhere they go! They can transmit bacteria and diseases to humans through contamination of food preparation surfaces, your food, or through airborne germs.
The Truth About DIY Rodent Control
Many homeowners in Terre Haute will attempt to control rodents on their own. They may try traps purchased from the store or pesticides. Unfortunately, many rodent infestations cannot be controlled with these DIY methods and they will continue to grow and spread throughout your home as you waste time and money on various control methods. Also, many of these products and methods can lead to incomplete elimination of rodents, leading to wounded animals for you to have to deal with, or rodents crawling into inaccessible portions of your house to die and rot.
Benefits of Hiring Professional Pest Control Companies
When you hire a professional pest control company to service your rodent control needs, you benefit from the expertise that comes from individuals in the industry. They’ve undergone extensive training for rodent control removal, and can save you money over most DIY methods. Best of all, professional pest control will get rid of your existing rodent infestation while preventing future infestations from occurring. Let your only exposure to the Christmas mouse be a source of joy and smiles, rather than a frustrating fight for the safety of your home and its intended occupants. Call Action Pest Control and see how we can help you have a happy holiday season this year, and for years to come.