Posts Tagged ‘Pest Control’
By: Kathryn Butler
When it gets cold outside there is not much nicer than relaxing in a nice warm home. Rodents are just one of the many pests that will find your home cozy during the winter. With colder air on the way and food supplies harder to come by, many rodents look to houses for a place to ride out the winter, and 21 million American homes will be invaded each winter according to pest control experts. Usually eating seeds and plant life rodents food supply begins to dwindle during the winter months, because of this they seek food elsewhere and usually end up inside somebody’s house.
Finding their way into your home through any number of tiny exterior openings. An opening as small as 1/2 inch can be big enough for a rodent to get into your home, and some mice may be able to make it through 1/4 inch holes. 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. There are many adverse effects of having rodents around. Numerous diseases may be spread to humans through a rodent’s biting and excrement and their tendency to chew through electrical wiring inside your home may lead you vulnerable to an electrical fire.
It is no surprise they are health threats when you consider the fact they carry over 200 human pathogens. Some pathogens, including the plague and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), post a certain risk of fatality in those who are subjected to them. HPS, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is distributed via saliva, airborne urine or in the infected feces of deer mice, and it has been classified in thirty US states over the past fourteen years. There were 465 cases reported, with almost 35% ending in fatality.
While it isn’t very common, the US sees approximately 12 cases of the plague in patients each year. For some time rodents have been accountable for detrimental effects on human health. As far back as the 14th century rodents can be blamed for the quick spread of the plague that ravaged much of Europe, although no longer a great concern these days, rodents still carry harmful diseases. 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.
A rodent invasion is not an indication of unclean conditions, though many people believe this. While it’s true that easier access to food supply and places to hide will be even more inviting to rodents, they will also infest any home that essentially leaves the front door open for them. If you are worried about potentially having a rodent invasion, here are some signs to look out for. You will likely find droppings around the place and in cupboards near food supplies, boxes of food themselves will be gnawed along with furniture legs and door frames, you may even hear the rats running through the walls or ceilings and may notice oily marks along their often traveled routes.
A trained and qualified professional should be called if you believe you have an infestation. Republic Pest Control will likely use poison and traps to eradicate your problem. A trained professional will know the best way to implement these techniques to achieve the best result and will often have a better success rate than someone who opts to do it himself. In order to avoid the possibility of rodent encroachment, here are some tips you should follows to maintain a rodent free home. * Firewood should be stored away from the home and should be kept up and off the ground. If you have any random piles of debris, stones, bricks, leaves or any such things around your home then clear these away. Piles like these that are near a home provide shelter for rodents and often help conceal their entrances.
If you discover holes larger than 1/4 inch then seal them up. If there are large cracks then stuff them with steel wool and wire mesh before you seal them. Make sure any vents are covered with tight 1/4 inch cloth. Many people already have insect screens on their doors and think these will work against rodents, they will not so you will have to attach tight fitting weather strips to the base of these doors. If you have tree branches that hang over or near your home, trim them back to keep them away from the edge of the building.
You can get the best pest Control Services information by visiting republicpest.com .Further information on home pest prevention can be found at pestworld.org/exterminators/prevention-tips
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With the weather this week in the Springfield and Branson Missouri area having lows in the 30s Fall has arrived, and winter will be here before we know it. We get many customers who call with questions regarding fall pest-proofing their home. The National Pest Management Association has put together a good list of things you can do to decrease the chance unwanted pests will enter your home.
Looking for a warm spot to call home.
The NPMA recommends these fall pest-proofing tips:
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Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
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Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
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Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter.
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Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
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Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
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Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
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Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house; keep shrubbery well-trimmed.
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If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect, identify and treat the problem.
Visit www.pestworld.org for more information.
