Ridding Your Home Of Rodents
Rats are excellent climbers and they usually live in spaces on the tops of buildings, on roofs or in attics, basements and ground floors. They also live in sheds, garages, boxes, ceilings, under floors, in wood heaps and in thick grass. Mice mainly live in structures. However, they can live outdoors as well. They breed throughout the year and share their nests with their relatives.
Facts About Mice and Rats
- Rats can live up to up to 5 years. The average is 18 months.
- 1 in 4 suspicious fires are due to rats.
- Adult rats can enter a hole as small as a quarter (less than one inch).
- Rats have extremely strong teeth and can chew through wire, plastic, glass, cinderblock, wood and even aluminum.
- Rats have highly sensitive and efficient, smell, taste, touch and sound which direct them to their food sources. However, they also have a good memory; they can identify rat poisons just with a tiny taste.
- Rats are also responsible for spreading Bubonic Plague.
- Two-month-old mice can give birth and are able to have 6 to 10 young per litter, 4 to 6 times per year.
- Mice and rats attract predators, such as snakes and bobcats.
- Mice and rats are good jumpers, climbers and swimmers.
Damage
Rats cause extensive damage to insulation inside walls and in attics, they cause structure damages by chewing and carrying many diseases. They also chew on electrical wires, which can cause fires. They are known to damage pool heaters, hot tubs and barbecue grills. Some rats will also attack both animals and humans. Small amounts of mouse urine trigger allergies, particularly in children. Mice spread diseases by contaminating food and water (and through bite wounds) with their waste products. Mice can also spread disease through parasites (such as ticks, fleas and mites). These parasites bite the infected mouse and then spread the disease by biting humans.
Pest and Animal Home Damage Repair of Minnesota
Damages may occur to your house by wild animals or by pests. These unwanted vermin can eat away at your roof line and siding, nest in your walls, vents and attics, and burrow under your foundation, all causing serious damage. What is worse is the fact that if you leave these animals or pest alone, they will multiply to even more.
Ridding your home of animals or pests is the first step in home repair.
Preventing Pest Problems In Minnesota
- Rats like to eat, so do not leave food out.
- Make sure that your sheds, storage areas, crawlspaces, and garbage cans are clean and dry.
- Mice eat 15-20 times a day, so do not leave food out.
- Seal up small holes and cracks that are half to quarter inch (Rats 0.5”, Mice 0.25”) or more.
Once mice become a problem they can be extremely hard to get rid of. If in a home for a good period of time, a large amount of mice may be living in your attic, foundation or walls without home owners being aware of their presents or damage that is being done.
Hiring a Minnesota Wild Animal Management expert is your best bet in getting rid of these rodents once and for all.
