When colder temperatures emerge, the warmth of a heated home would be welcomed by anyone. Sadly rodents share this feeling. Pest control professionals say that during times of falling temperatures and decreasing outdoor, natural food supplies more than 21 million homes will be affected by rodents every winter. Rodent food supply usually consists of plant life and seeds, however when it gets cold outside it becomes harder and harder to find food, so in a bid to survive they seek refuge and food inside homes. Go to this site for further information on pest controllers.

Believe it or not, mice and rats can get into your home through the tiniest of openings. You may think you have no cracks big enough but all a rat needs is a 1/2 inch opening, while a mouse can get through something as small as 1/4 inch. And it’s not just the obvious entries you need to worry about either because rodents can climb almost any rough surface, and have been know to make use of trees or pipes in order to break into a house. Living with rodents could be a dangerous thing. First of all, they can present many fire hazards because they have a habit of eating their way through electrical wiring, and they also produce health problems because of the diseases in their bile and droppings.

It is no surprise they are health threats when you consider the fact they carry over 200 human pathogens. What is scary is the knowledge that some of these diseases can be fatal, such as the plague and HPS, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. HPS can be spread by airborne urine, saliva or fecal matter of infected deer mice, and has been found in 30 states over the last 14 years as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 465 reported cases in this time period and 35 percent are fatal.

While the plague is a rare disease now, there are still around twelve reports of the fatal infection in the United States alone. You can account rodents to negative effects on humans throughout history. In 14th century Europe, rodents were a trajectory for the plague and those diseases they carried back then are still a threat to human health today. Even though there is a limited number of pathogens rodents carry that are dangerous to human health, the possibility of rodent invasion needs to be taken seriously. You will find that further information on cheap pest control services is on that site.

A rodent invasion is not an indication of unclean conditions, though many people believe this. Although it is true that easy access to food and clutter make for an appealing home to a rodent, the fact is any home can be invaded by rodents. If you believe rodents have made their way into your home, look for these tell-tale indicators. There are a few telltale signs left behind by rodents that may indicate their presence like dark colored droppings (usually 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length), the gnawed remnants of food in your pantry, oily markings on the wall where they have rubbed against it, gnawed wooden frames and furniture, and the sound of scampering in the pantry or behind walls.

If you detect any of these signs, then call a professional pest control expert right away. Infestations can usually be handled with the use of rodenticides and traps. You could do this yourself but a trained professional will implement these methods with a greater degree of efficiency and success. You should take steps to avoid an infestation in the first place, especially when cold weather is on the way. Any firewood you store outside keep it a large distance away from your home and preferably off the ground. Piles of stones, bricks and other debris should be cleared away. Such things will shelter rodents and could even hide cracks or holes in the walls of your home that allow access inside.

Look for cracks or holes that are 1/4″ or larger and seal them appropriately. Larger openings should first be stuffed with wire mesh before you seal them. Any vents that may lead to your attic or basement should be covered with tight 1/4″ cloth. You may already have insect screens on your doors and windows, these will not keep out a rodent so add some weather strips to the bottom of your doors. Trees and shrubs provide shelter as well as a way to climb, so trim back any branches that might hang over or near your house and keep shrubbery cut back from the side of any structures.