As the year progresses and the weather begins to get colder, you may notice an increase in presence of rats and mice, whether this is in or around your home or business. Whether it’s a domestic or commercial setting, this can be a big worry and is unsightly at the very least.
There are several reasons behind the increased rodent presence at this time of year, but it largely comes down to the change in seasons. During the summer rodents can source food from ripened crops and naturally occurring fruits, spending little energy on staying warm at night, and being able to seek shelter in vegetation. For this reason, the rodent population is usually at its highest by the end of summer.
As autumn begins the availability of naturally occurring food sources becomes limited and rodents begin to search closer to homes for food waste, often rummaging through bins for leftovers. Rats and mice will also begin to struggle to find shelter as the vegetation becomes sparse, resulting in them seeking shelter indoors in order to survive.
Unfortunately, rats and mice are able to use even the smallest of gaps to enter your home or business; mice can even get in through gaps as small as 1cm, making it a challenge to prevent. If you have an older home or building made of clay air brick and metal matrix, you are likely to be particularly susceptible to rodent infestation as it is easier for them to get into the wall cavity. Once in the wall cavity rodents can then get almost anywhere in your house, finding food sources and breeding as they go.
This can be a great problem as rodents can spread many diseases such as:
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- Leptospirosis
- Rat-bite fever
- Salmonellosis
If you suspect you may have a rodent infestation it is vital that you do not attempt to deal with the issue yourself and instead contact professionals for help and advice as soon as possible, as many of these diseases could be potentially fatal.
Professionals such as Holgate Pest Control are trained and experienced in dealing with rodent infestations and can quickly and safely deal with the issue. If left for too long rodent infestations can get quickly out of control making them harder to deal with.
Holgate Pest Control treats rodent infestations using a number of professional-grade methods including rodenticides, traps, and baits. Once the infestation has been removed, they can then offer you help and advice in preventing any future infestations.
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