When is Rodent Season?
Rodent season typically starts whenever the temperatures in Florida start to drop, which can mean early October to November. The colder months are when an infestation can escalate quickly if the issue isn’t addressed early. Making sure that rodents don’t make their way in during this critical time is essential to save your home from expensive damages and health hazards.
1. Do Rodents Hibernate in the Winter?
As the temperatures start to drop, rodents start searching for somewhere to make a permanent residence. Rodents will find a warm place to nest for the winter without hesitation. These rats and mice are looking for a cozy spot like the attic, crawl spaces, roof eaves/soffits, garages, and even behind appliances. These areas are ideal nesting sites where they can reproduce and store food without being bothered.
2. What Sort of Damage do Rodents Cause?
Rodents teeth never stop growing! To keep them filed down they are constantly gnawing, which means they will chew on almost anything in sight. This includes drywall, baseboards, furniture, PVC pipes and electrical wires to name a few. This is a huge danger as exposed wires can short-circuit, causing a fire.
3. What diseases can humans get from rodents?
Rodents are scavenger creatures that leave a trail of contaminants behind everywhere they go. Rodents are known to carry at least 10 different types of diseases that are harmful to humans including:
- Spirochetal Jaundice
- Rabies
- Rat-bite Fever
- Bubonic Plague
- Leptospirosis
- Tularemia
- Salmonellosis
- Murine Typhus
- Ringworm
- Bacterial food poisoning
They can spread these diseases through their urine, droppings, saliva or bites which are harmful to families and pets. For sensitive individuals and children, the rodents can trigger an allergic reaction and worsen asthma symptoms.
4. How Do I Know There is a Rodent in My Home?
Here are some of the surefire ways you can tell if you have a rodent in your home.
- If you are hearing scratching, squealing, or scurrying in the walls, attic, or crawl spaces.
- Droppings – are small-dark pellets along baseboards, in cupboards, and behind appliances.
- Gnaw marks on surfaces like wood, plastic, and wiring.
- Grease marks that can appear along walls or baseboards, because rodents tend to travel the same route.
5. How Can I Prevent a Rodent Infestation?
As soon as you see signs of any rodent droppings or hear scratching at night, it is best to immediately schedule a rodent evaluation to get the scope on the magnitude of the problem. Performing exclusion work is important to seal off any entry points and prevent rodents from making their way back inside. Trimming any trees that are touching a home is great to do as rats use cracks in the walls or foundation to get in. Making sure that any potential food or water sources are removed, and that any pet food is properly sealed. In addition, rodent monitoring and trapping are great methods to eliminate any existing activity before it turns into a full infestation.
Don’t let rodents take over your home this winter. If you’ve noticed any signs of rodent activity, or want to make sure your home is protected before they move in, get a quote today. Our expert team will inspect, identify, and eliminate any rodent problems, quickly, and safely, keeping your home secure all season long.
