Rodents

Rats and mice belong to the group known as rodents.

Rats and mice pose a serious threat to humans often very difficult to control. Rodents are classified as mammals, being warm blooded. They are covered with fur and suckle their young as we do. They communicate by using noises such as squeaks and grunts.

Rodents have adapted with living closely with humans, often sharing food and shelter. Research shows that rats and mice are responsible for massive losses of food.

Rats and mice are VECTORS meaning they transmit disease to humans in many different ways. As a rodent moves through foods they contaminate it with urine and droppings.

A list of the most common diseases rodents are responsible for are:

1. The plague

2. Rat-bite Fever

3. Salmonellosis

4. Lassa Fever, and the list goes on

They don’t just spread disease they are also known to start electrical fires in roof voids and cavity walls. Gnaw on electrical cable, thus shorting the electrical system causing fires.

IDENTIFYING A RODENT PROBLEM

1. Tracks, foot prints, Smudge marks where they run

2. Noises in the roof and cavity walls at night, often described as scratching, crawling and squeaking

3. Food disappearance, Rats and mice are very clever critters, often stealing food and taking it back to their nest to feed or your roof void or cavity wall

4. You may even see them – Often meaning there is a major infestation and the nest is over populated, or there is not enough food for the nest so they are hunting

5. Mice are prolific breeders, twice as reproductive as rats

One female mouse can live up to three years and is capable of production of 3,000 cubs in one year
Mice are sexually reproductive as early as 28 days and have litters of 10-20 cubs, as rats have litters of 6-10