Unlike other common household pests, rats and mice are mammals, belonging to the group known as rodents. This name refers to their gnawing habit which is necessary to control the size of their front incisor teeth. These animals are well adapted to living in very close association with humans, sharing food and shelter. Why are they a major pest?
Eating and contamination of stored food:
Rats and mice cause major losses in stored food through either consumption or contamination with urine, faeces and hair.
Physical Damage:
The gnawing habits of rodents can cause considerable damage. Buildings, furniture, books, equipment and machinery are not immune to this sort of damage. Rodents can even gnaw electrical cables causing short-circuits and even electrical fires.
Disease Transmission:
Rats and mice play a role in disease transmission. Diseases include the Black Death (bubonic plague), Salmonella food poisoning, Murine typhus fever, Weil’s disease and Trichinosis. Diseases are transmitted in a number of ways including urine and faeces, scratching and biting, other parasites (e.g. fleas), via pets or other indirect means.
What can be done?
Control for rodents comprises four main approaches:
- Sanitation – reducing the food and shelter available for rodent activity
- Rodent-proofing – alter the building structurally so that rodents cannot gain entry.
- Trapping – using traps to physically capture rodents
- Chemical Control – covers a wide variety of techniques including baiting, use of tracking powders and gels and in some cases, fumigants.
Download our Rodent Brochure here.
Learn more about specific species:
Our licensed technicians can assist you with a flexible, tailored solution to meet your needs and prevent these pests from becoming a problem in your home or workplace. Please contact us to see how we can help you maintain an environment free of these and other pests.