Three Reasons That Mouse Infestations Are No Laughing Matter
Is something scurrying through your walls? Are you catching fleeting glimpses of tiny balls of fur running across your living room floor? Has something been taking food from your pantry without even leaving you the courtesy of a thank you note? Mice might seem cute, but they can cause far more damage than their tiny paw prints might lead you to believe. If you currently have mice in your home, then it pays to understand the many ways they may be causing damage or presenting serious health concerns. Once you are aware of the dangers of cohabitating with mice, you will be better prepared to decide whether you want to deal with the situation yourself or call in professional pest control services.
Rodents Are Disease Vectors
The most serious threat that mice pose to you and your family is as carriers of disease. Mice can potentially carry a large number of pathogens which can find their way into your home as they move from room to room. This can be particularly concerning since mice are usually attracted to areas where food is stored—such as pantries—which in turn risks contaminating your food. Since mice do not clean their paws after answering nature's call, these diseases can find your way into food from mice droppings or urine even if there are no obvious signs of mouse waste in the area.
Rodents Can Start Fires
Mice seek out hard materials to chew on, and this is bad news for the insulation on your wires. Mice that have found their way into your attic or behind walls can wreak havoc on any exposed wiring that may be found in these spaces. If you are concerned that mice have already started to cause damage, look for wiring that has bruise-like markings or tears on the insulation. If mice have already started to damage the wiring in your house, then it is vital to deal with the problem before exposed insulation results in a fire.
Rodents Will Chew On Just About Anything
Although wiring is the number one concern of most homeowners facing a mouse infestation, rodents will chew on just about any material. You may find gnaw marks on wood framing in your attic or even furniture around your house. Since mice are happy to use a wide variety of materials for nesting, you may also find that insulation or even the padding from seats or pillows is being torn up. If only a small number of mice have entered the home, then this form of damage may be difficult to detect, but a serious infestation can result in widespread damage throughout your home.
If you find that the infestation is pretty severe, you may want to consider calling in mouse pest control services for assistance.
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