Has there ever been a time in your life when you considered adopting a rodent as a pet? Many people go through a phase, sometimes as a kid, other times as an adult, where they look at the mice, rats, and hamsters at the pet store and imagine what it would be like to have one inside their home. There is, of course, a huge difference between keeping one of these animals as a pet and having one crawling around indoors unsupervised. If you didn’t know, rodents are natural troublemakers when left to their own devices. To help you handle these problematic pests, here are some things you should know and what to do if they find their way into your New York City home.
WHY RODENTS INVADE HOMES
If you had the opportunity to live in a mansion for free, would you? Most people would, without question. Rodents feel the same way about our homes. If there is a way for them to get inside and if there is food for them to nibble on, they will invade and settle in. The only thing they don’t like about living with humans is living with humans. Everything else is great.
WHAT TYPES OF RODENTS INVADE HOMES?
There are several species of rodents that live in New York City. The three most common are rats, mice, and squirrels. Of these three furry pests, rats and mice are the ones you can expect to sneak their way into your home. These problematic pests use their sharp teeth to chew through walls, and their agile bodies to climb up drains and siding. And they are always on the lookout for damage that might allow them to get inside buildings.
THE DANGERS OF RODENTS
Pet rodents are not generally dangerous. What makes a rodent dangerous is the environment it lives in and the food it consumes. Pest rats and mice that live in our area regularly consume bacteria-laden foods found in trash cans and in other unsanitary areas. They also have no concern for where they lay their heads and spend their time. It is not uncommon for these pests to crawl through trash, sewage, and over-dead animals before coming into our homes. Just a few diseases people contract from rodents is salmonellosis, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever.
SOME SIMPLE TIPS TO PREVENT RODENTS
If your home is not yet crawling with rodents, now is your time to implement prevention strategies to keep them away. Here are some great places our experts recommend you start.
- Use a caulking gun to fill in holes, gaps, and spacing in your home’s foundation and around window and door frames.
- Make sure your window/door screens are in good working order.
- Address problems with your home’s gutter system.
- Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up around your property.
- Keep your living areas clean by vacuuming regularly, picking up food messes, and washing off surfaces.
- Pick up your pets’ food and water bowls after they finish with them.
THE ABSOLUTE BEST SOLUTION TO RODENT INFESTATIONS
When rodents invade properties, they won’t go away without a fight. To make your battle with these pests easy, hire the professionals at Broadway Pest Services. Our team of licensed technicians will implement comprehensive rodent control solutions around your property to get these pests out and set up defense strategies to keep them out in the future.
Call us today for details about our rodent control and find a time for your New York City home to be treated for these pests.