 Homeowners may notice some unwelcome visitors seeking indoor shelter as the weather cools. Rodents, which invade homes while looking for food and warmth, can be difficult to keep out no matter what their size or species. The most common rodent species in the Louisiana are Norway rats, Roof rats and the House mouse. Surprising to many people, rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter and can crawl through holes the size of a dime. Not only are rodents hard to control, these filthy pests can be dangerous, contaminate food, and spread diseases in your home. It’s important to properly identify the type of rodent you are dealing with in order to take the appropriate measures to eliminate the rodents. Mice alone contaminate 10 times the amount of food they actually consume. Rodents in general can carry fleas known to spread various types of plague and are also notorious for carrying and spreading diseases such as Murine Typhus and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. A rodent control program in and around the home is one way to prevent disease transmission. |