While Florida provides residents and visitors with a beautiful and tropical climate all year round, the cooler winter weather can attract the unwanted attention of rodents and rats to your home or commercial property. During the winter months, mice and rats are actively searching for a warm place to live, and they could settle on your home! Preventative rodent control is key to ensuring your home and belongings are safe from the destructive behavior of rats and mice. Contact Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter for a free rodent inspection to ensure your family and home is secure this winter. For those in the Wellington area, don’t hesitate to reach out for reliable pest control Wellington services to keep your property rodent-free.
RODENTS ARE DESTRUCTIVE
The earlier a rodent infestation is identified, the sooner it can be eliminated from your home. In addition to leaving an unsanitary trail of feces behind them everywhere they go, rodents can cause costly damage to your home and property. Since a majority of their time is often spent chewing and gnawing on anything in their sight, rodents can likely be found destroying the wood framework of your home, PVC pipes and even electrical wires. Before the Florida winter comes blowing in at full force, take the proper preventative measures to ensure you keep these small critters from entering your home.
RATS & MICE CARRY DISEASES
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rodents are responsible for spreading up to 35 diseases worldwide. While you may think rats and mice are cute and cuddly balls of fur, they often carry dangerous and harmful diseases. Below is a list of three of the most common.
HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME (HPS)
First singled out in 1993, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome has since been the cause of more than 500 deaths in the United States. While a small bite from a mouse can easily transmit disease, it’s important to note that direct contact with a rodent isn’t necessarily needed to cause infection. The simple inhalation of rat feces and urine can lead to a severe rodent infection and possibly result in death. It has also been found that children are much more susceptible to HPS than adults, so be sure to have your home checked for rodents to ensure your family’s safety from disease.
RAT BITE FEVER
Did you know that you’re susceptible to rodent diseases through skin contact? Rat bite fever can manifest for three days to three months following skin contact with a mouse or rat. It is also possible to spread rat bite fever through ingesting rodent-contaminated food or drinks. Symptoms of this disease can include vomiting, chills, fever and even joint pain. Two to four days after becoming infected, you may start to notice a rash appear on your hands and feet. Without proper medical treatment, rat bite fever can lead to long-term suffering and irreparable damage.
LEPTOSPIROSIS
A very dangerous disease spread by rats and mice, leptospirosis can occur when you come in contact with the bacteria, either through your skin or the saliva of the infected rodent. Patients with leptospirosis experience a variety of symptoms, including jaundice, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and abdominal pain. If this condition is left untreated, it can lead to liver failure, kidney damage and respiratory issues.
LYME DISEASE
Carried by ticks that live on the host of animals, including rats and mice, Lyme disease is spread to humans through a small bite from the infected tick. Early signs of this disease can include skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.
SIGNS OF A RODENT INFESTATION
If you’re concerned your Florida home could have a rodent infestation, there are several telltale signs to look for. Some common signs of rodent infestation can include:
- You notice mouse droppings in your cupboards, on your kitchen counter or in your pantry. Mice typically produce between 50 to 75 droppings per day, which will accumulate in the areas of your home where the mice are spending the most time. This can especially be true near food sources.
- Food packages, such as cereal boxes, suddenly have small teeth marks around them from being chewed through.
- You notice fur and staining on entry points through your walls. Mice, in general, have very oily fur that can help them squeeze into even the tiniest of spaces. Frequently used mouse entry points will typically be surrounded by a brownish-gray staining from the oil on their skin and the fur on their bodies.
- You hear the skitter-skatter of tiny feet running inside your home’s walls or in the ceiling.
- You notice holes in the exterior of your home or commercial property. Mice are known to chew through building materials, creating new entry points into your home.
- You notice a small mouse run across the living room floor.
RODENT CONTROL IN JUPITER
At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we’ve helped hundreds of Jupiter residents stop rodent infestations before they can wreak havoc on the interior and exterior of their property. Our rodent control experts have learned that the most effective way to keep mice out of your home permanently is through exclusion and innovative treatments. While there are several things homeowners can do to help keep rodents from entering their home, the experienced eye of a trained professional can save you money, time, and headaches. Our certified exterminators provide expert pest control Wellington FL, using the safest methods to eliminate contamination and ensure your home and lawn are properly treated. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact us today to schedule your free rodent inspection!
