When it comes to threats against your West Chester home, many people think of tornadoes, flooding, and house fires – your typical natural disasters. One of the last "natural disasters" you might think of includes rodents, right?
There are different types of rodents in West Chester, and they pose threats to your home that most don't even think of. For instance, when you come home, you would never think that touching your kitchen countertop puts you at risk of hantavirus or tularemia. You likely also wouldn't think that sitting in your living room enjoying television could put you at risk of fleas and ticks. These are just some of the risks you, your loved ones, and your pets are up against when rodents enter your home.
At the first sight or sign of rodents, many people resort to DIY tactics. Traps are the go-to method many people turn to. This method is effective for some individuals but not effective enough to rid your home of an entire rodent infestation. Rodents breed at an alarming rate, and because of that, the rodent population is constantly growing, which, in turn, outnumbers the number of traps you would need to place in your home to wipe out an infestation.
Additionally, rodents are very intelligent creatures that know traps when they see them and actively try to avoid them. Unfortunately, too many people look at traps as an end-all solution, which, ultimately, leaves them exposed to the many risks associated with rodent infestations.
If you think your West Chester home is up against the threat of a rodent infestation, don't waste time or money on any ineffective DIY methods. This only prolongs your exposure to the dangers associated with these pests. Instead, reach out to Masters Touch Pest Solutions, your local West Chester pest control.
How To Identify Common Types Of Rodents In West Chester
There are around 1,500 species of rodents in the United States, but in the West Chester area, the most common types of rodents you'll find are on the rodents list:
- Wood rats
- Field mice
- Roof rats
- Moles
- House mice
- Meadow voles
When you are simply enjoying time spent at home, the last thing you want to look up to see is a rodent scurrying across your floor. When this happens, properly identifying that rodent is likely the last thing on your mind – especially if you have a fear of rodents. The first thing on your mind is going to be to get it out!
While the sense of urgency to get the rodent out of your home is of great importance, it is important to know what type of rodents are in your home. Rodents are most easily identified by their behaviors, physical appearance, and specific body features.
Rats are much larger in size than mice and tend to have hairless tails and ears. Rats also have bigger and stronger teeth and can chew through heavier, more sturdy materials such as PVC and metal pipes. Moles have pointed snouts, incredibly large front feet, tiny ears, and live underground. Voles are much smaller in size, have rounded ears, and prefer to live in low-lying vegetation.
At the sight of any of these pests in or around your home, you need to call Masters Touch Pest Solutions.
Rodents Can Spread Disease And Damage Property
Of all problems to have with your home, having a rodent problem is undoubtedly one of the worst. Whether you discover your rodent problem outside your home or inside, it calls for the immediate attention of West Chester pest professionals.
At Masters Touch Pest Solutions, we have extensive years of experience with rodent removal, and there's no job too big or too small for us to handle. However, the sooner you call, the easier it will be to get these pests out of your home with minimal damage. Remember, time is of the essence with these critters. The longer you allow them on your property, the more havoc they wreak and the larger their infestation will grow. Take a look at the many ways rodents can put your West Chester home in harm's way.
Structural Damage
The amount of structural damage rodents can do to a home is astonishing, especially given their small size. All it takes is one small mouse to gnaw its way through your home's siding, wiring, and anything else to gain access inside your home, and the floodgates will open.
Mice and rats have very sharp teeth that constantly grow and need to chew on hard materials to prevent their teeth from getting too long. That, unfortunately, means that once they enter your home, these critters will chew through your furniture, wood beams, and other items inside your home to shave their teeth down and remove any barriers in their way of getting inside your home.
Electrical Damage
As you know, mice and other rodents have no problem chewing through anything blocking them from getting inside your home, and that includes your home's wiring, cables, insulation, and more. Once rodents decide to chew through electrical cords and wiring, this puts you, your loved ones, and pets in serious danger of electrical fires and water leaks, all of which are costly repairs and can also be fatal.
Home Contamination
Rodent urine, feces, and saliva contain diseases and bacteria that can make anyone who enters your home very sick. When these critters are in your home, things like your floors, countertops, food, and other areas of your home become contaminated. In addition to that, when you sweep rodent droppings, the bacteria and germs become airborne, causing you to breathe in unhealthy air.
You also can't forget that rodents carry fleas and ticks, which also carry and spread additional diseases and bacteria. So, having rodents in your home puts you at increased risk of various diseases, bacteria, and viruses. Professional removal is of utmost importance.
Offensive Odor
When rodents are in your home, you'll know it because of their pungent odor. This smell becomes highly offensive and unbearable if you have an infestation of rodents in your home. When the odor is at this stage, your home becomes uninhabitable, and you then have no choice but to call pest professionals. Staying in your home when the odor is pungent from rodents can also trigger asthma, allergies, and cause respiratory issues. This is very apparent when rodents get trapped and die in the walls of your home, the attic, or any other area of your home.
The good news about rodents' damage to your home is that they are all preventable. By sealing all entry points and maintaining a clean and sanitized home, rodents will not be a problem in your home.
How And Why Rodents Find Their Way Into Our Homes
Believe it or not, rodents have the same basic needs as humans: the need for food, water, warmth, and shelter. Unfortunately, they meet their needs from the comforts of our homes, making us uncomfortable in our own homes. This answers the question of why rodents make their way into our homes, but the biggest and most important question that needs to be answered is how are rodents finding their way inside your home?
To find out how rodents are getting inside your home, you will need to inspect your home's exterior. Usually, rodents enter homes through a gap or crack found in your foundation, siding, and other exterior areas of your home. Remember, a small rat can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, and mice can fit through holes the size of a dime.
You'll want to check areas of your home where pipes and wires enter your home from the exterior and make sure there are no gaps there, look under your porch, and examine any window or door screens to see if there are any tears or rips.
Of course, calling your local West Chester home pest control professional should be your first course of action if you find any openings, cracks, or gaps in your home's exterior. Once your rodent problem has been taken care of, you immediately need to contact a professional contractor to make the necessary repairs to your home to ensure rodents don't return.
The Most Effective Rodent Control For Your Home
When figuring out how to keep rodents away, the safest, fastest, and most effective solution is to partner with the professionals at Masters Touch Pest Solutions.
Our pest professionals have over 25 years of pest control industry experience and are here to put your mind at ease whenever the sanctity and privacy of your home have been invaded by rodents. We know the damage rodents can cause to your home as well as the health risks involved just by their presence.
At Masters Touch Pest Solutions, we offer three plans of service as well as additional pest-specific services, but every plan includes a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home to check for entry points. From there, treatment is performed based on the specific needs of your home.
To learn more about how we can get rodents out of your home and keep them out, call Masters Touch Pest Solutions today!
