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Rodents

Rat Pest Control | Beeline Pest Control

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Should an expecting female rat slip through the cracks of your home, she’s likely to bring six tiny newcomers into the world within three weeks. Just over a month later, those little fellows are grown and ready to start new families of their own. They’re also capable of calling to others nearby without humans hearing. A single rat, or a family of them, could invite additional unwanted guests into your home while you’re trying to get rid of the ones already there.

If your home is taken over by mice or rats, contamination is only one of your concerns.

Rodents are resourceful. They will borrow bits and pieces from your personal possessions to build their nests and eat their way through walls and wiring to clear pathways for their daily adventures. Let Beeline Pest Control help you reclaim your living quarters or put proactive measures in place to keep rodents from invading in the first place.

Deer Mice also tend to come inside when cold weather threatens. They’re similar in size and appearance to their previously-mentioned cousins with light reddish-brown backs and white bellies. They have fewer little ones than their counterparts but grow up just as quickly, leaving you plagued with five or more adults in less than two months.

Both these little intruders are fairly harmless to people and pets as long as they’re living where they should. Once they’re in human territory, though, they can leave behind a trail of contamination. Anything both you and the mice come in contact with in your home increases your risk of exposure. They’re proven carriers of

  • Salmonella: An intestinal bacteria causing fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
  • Leptospirosis: Bacterial infection bringing about body aches, diarrhea and vomiting, high fever, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
  • Hantavirus: Leads to fever, body aches, chills, difficulty breathing, and kidney failure
  • Rat-Bite Fever: Not necessarily contracted through bites, rat-bite fever can cause elevated body temperature, aches, and pains, rash, skin lesions, as well as sore throats and has been linked to increased risk of future health issues, such as meningitis, liver damage, and pneumonia.
  • Bubonic, Septicemic, and Pneumonic Plagues: Though all these conditions begin with fever and muscle weakness, their symptoms vary from that point. Pneumonic plague leads to severe respiratory issues whereas Bubonic causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, a cough with bloody mucus, and extremely swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms of Septicemic plague include abdominal pain, internal bleeding, and shock.

 

All these conditions can be spread through contaminated food and water, inhaling particles from droppings, and bites from fleas feeding on both you and infected mice. Intruders carrying these viruses and bacteria place your family in danger. They also bring along dangerous threats like tick and flea epidemics.

Rat Repercussions
Though mice are significant problems on their own, three common rat species also call Texas home: Roof, Cotton, and Norway Rats. Quite a bit more massive than their diminutive cousins, each of these intruders can grow to be more than a foot long. Meeting up with one of these critters during a middle-of-the-night trip down the hallway might be enough to elicit a mild heart attack, but they are perfectly capable of introducing illnesses as well.

In addition to the health hazards listed for mice, rats carry Murine Typhus, which can be transmitted courtesy of their byproducts as well as the fleas they play host to and bring into your home. Symptoms of this illness include pain in muscles and joints, persistent cough, rash, nausea, and a fever as high as 106 degrees. To make matters worse, they are not opposed to munching on smaller rodents and won’t hesitate to bring the carcasses of those meals into your house to feed their continuously multiplying families. Are you experiencing an increase of rat sightings around your home?

rats

Questions that People Most Frequently Ask Us

Take a look at some of the typical questions that pop up in the minds of our clients

How do I know if I have a rodent problem?

There are a few telltale signs of a rodent infestation. Droppings: Rodents will leave behind droppings wherever they go. Gnawing: Rodents love to gnaw on things. Nests: Rodents will build nests out of anything they can find. Sounds: Rodents are mostly active at night, so you may hear them scratching or scurrying around in your walls or ceiling.

Is it true that rodents are harmful to my pets?

Yes, rodents can be harmful to your pets. They may carry diseases that can be passed on to them, and they may also try to attack or eat small animals. If you have a pet, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of an infestation and call a pest control professional right away.

Where do rodents live?

Rodents typically live in burrows, which can be found in yards, fields or even inside homes and businesses. If you find a hole in your yard or see one running around inside, chances are there’s a nest nearby.

What is the largest rodent?

The largest rodent in the world is the capybara, which can weigh up to 150 pounds. The next largest is the beaver, which can weigh up to 60 pounds. Rats and mice are much smaller, typically weighing less than a pound.

When are rodents most active?

Rodents are most active at night, but you may see them during the day if there’s a lot of commotion in their nest or they’re looking for food.

What do rodents eat?

Rodents are scavengers, so they’ll pretty much eat anything they can find. This includes food that’s left out, garbage, pet food and even human hair or nails.

How do rodents get inside?

Rodents can squeeze through incredibly small spaces, which is how they get into homes and businesses. Once they’re inside, they’ll start to build their nests and look for food. That’s why it’s important to seal up any cracks or holes in your walls, foundation or roof. You should also keep food stored in airtight containers and keep your counters and floors clean.

How can I get rid of rodents at my home or business?

The first step is to call a pest control professional. They will be able to identify the type of rodent infesting your property and come up with a plan to get rid of them. This may include setting traps, using baits or poisons, or seal up any entry points so they can’t get back in.

Can rodents spread rabies or other diseases?

Yes, rodents can spread a variety of diseases, including rabies, Hantavirus, Lyme disease and bubonic plague. That’s why it’s important to call a pest control professional if you suspect an infestation.

What animals are considered rodents?

In the pest control industry, rodents are any of the following animals: rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines and beavers.