Mice and Rats are Pests you Do Not Want in your Home

Mice and rats are pests you certainly do not want in your home.  Do not think they will just steal a little food and stay out of the way.  They can potentially cause much more serious problems than stealing a little food.

Rats and mice will do their best to infiltrate your food supply though.  They can chew through virtually anything, so do not count on a plastic container or cardboard box to keep them at bay.  It is best for you to keep certain types of food in metal containers.  Make sure you clean up crumbs and other debris quite frequently as well.

As mentioned, stealing food is not even the main concern.  They can contaminate it with their urine and feces.  If this happens you likely would not even know about it.  In addition to it being disgusting, you can also get sick when exposed to it.  You should be aware rats and mice can carry many different diseases.  Surely, you have heard what was responsible for spreading the Plague that affected Europe centuries ago.

Rats have been known to bite people on occasion, which can also transmit diseases.  Even if the rodents are not carrying any diseases themselves, they can still pose a health hazard.  They are commonly infected with parasites such as mites and fleas which can both also transmit diseases.

Besides your health, you should also worry about mice and rats causing significant damage to your home.  They constantly need to chew to keep their incisors under control.  They have the ability to chew through virtually anything.  They will chew up books, paper, upholstery, and wood in order to use the debris to make their nests.

They are even capable of chewing through cinder blocks in your home's foundation.  Metals such as aluminum and lead are not safe from them either, so you may have leaky pipes because of the rodents.  If they chew through wiring in your home, a fire may start which is certainly a significant hazard.

Apart from structural damage, mice and rats can also cause cosmetic damage around your home.  If you are growing certain plants, they will kill them by burrowing near the roots or even feeding on them.  Gardeners will also have trouble keeping them away from their vegetables.

You do not want uninvited guests in your home, and this should certainly include mice and rats.  Make sure you take appropriate measures to prevent them from entering in the first place.  If you think they have already invaded, then get on the phone and call a pest professional to exterminate them immediately.