4 Diseases Caused by Rats
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4 Diseases Caused by Rats

Pest Control Memphis, Uncategorized

4 Diseases Caused by Rats

Top 4 Diseases Caused by Rats in Memphis

Here in Memphis, rats and mice are heading in for the winter. Today, we have had a drop in temperature which will trigger even more rodents into nesting mentality. They are searching for small entry points in your homes and businesses and they love attic spaces. Rodents will go out to find food and water and sneak back in to nest and breed. Rodents are very much a health hazard for anyone around them as microscopic organisms can be spread very easily. Here are four types of diseases caused by rats in this area:

Hantavirus – Hantavirus is a life-threatening disease transmitted to humans by rodents—primarily, the white-footed deer mouse. People become infected through exposure or inhalation of infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva. The chances increase when people are near spaces where rodents are actively living.
Bubonic plague – Bubonic Plague is usually spread by the bite of an infected rodent flea and can cause fever, headache and painfully swollen lymph nodes.”
Salmonellosis – Salmonellosis is a kind of food poisoning spread by rodent feces, especially through the consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms may include diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.
Rat-Bite Fever – Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a potentially fatal infectious disease spread by infected rodents or the consumption of food contaminated by rodents.

Any of these diseases can cause severe health risks, so if you are in doubt about your rodent activity, please give us a call or email so we can come out and access your risk. We will look for rodent activity and access points. We may decide to use bait stations where activity is found. Rosie’s Pest Control is fully licensed and up to date on current rodent removal techniques.

By Debbie Crawford|2017-10-11T17:24:40+00:00October 11th, 2017|Pest Control Memphis, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Memphis Ranks #1 For Roof Rats

Fall is the most common season for roof rats due to their outdoor food source being reduced. Even when our region is experiencing warmer than normal temperatures, natural food sources are drying up. Memphis is ranked number 1 for infestations from this invasive species.

They are much easier to distinguish from some of their rodent relatives because of their long and scaly tails.

According to Andy Long, director of Rosie’s Pest Control, roof rats usually stay out of plain sight but even one spotted is very often times a sign of a serious infestation.

Long also said they are usually active at night and often leave smudge marks as result of dirt and oil. You can also find evidence in droppings around active areas.

Roof rats may enter buildings and structures via holes, soffit vents, cables entering buildings and turbine and box vents on roofs. Inspections by a professional can help identify these entry points so needed repairs and preventative maintenance can be done. Contact Andy Long or Katie Fox with Rosie’s to get your free home or business inspection before the weather gets any cooler.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:42:11+00:00November 3rd, 2016|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Protect Your Home From Roof Rats

Tips to keep roof rats away

1. Starve them out

• Citrus, figs, acorns, and various other locally grown plants are a source of food and water for roof rats. Pick fruit, even if it’s not ripe, and pick up any that falls to the ground.

• Don’t leave pet food out overnight, and pick up dog feces.

• Limit use of bird feeders. Either stop filling them altogether or only provide the amount birds will eat in a day. Sweep up any spilled food before sunset. Store bird seed in sealed, rat-proof containers.

• Indoors, store bulk food in sealed, rat-proof containers.

• Keep garbage containers tightly covered.

2. Clean up your yard

• Rake under trees and shrubs.

• Prune fruit trees so the ground under them is visible.

• Remove wood and brush piles. If you have to store wood and lumber, keep it at least 18 inches above the ground and 12 inches from walls.

• Trim or remove dead trees. Roof rats nest in the skirts of old palm fronds, in piles of debris and in hollow trees.

• Thin out bushes so you can see daylight through them. Roof rats like to nest in oleanders in the summer.

3. Seal your home

• Roof rats can enter through openings as small as a nickel, so be diligent sealing cracks and crevices. Use stucco diamond mesh, which is available at building material suppliers, to seal holes and vents. It is easy to cut and mold, but for rats it’s like chewing razor blades.

• Check for holes in exterior walls and near water heaters, washers, dryers, dishwashers and under sinks.

• Caulk cracks, screen the sewer stacks on the roof and stuff air-conditioning lines that run from outside into the attic with steel wool or copper mesh to prevent rats from entering.

4. Be strategic with traps

• Set traps baited with a little peanut butter in areas such as the laundry room or garden shed.

• Place traps away from places they can be found by pets or small children.

• Roof rats can be skittish about unfamiliar objects, so leave the traps in place for at least a week before moving them.

5. Be careful with poisons

• Bait stations are protected places for rats to feed without being accessible to non-target animals. Call Rosie’s Pest Control to set you up with these bait stations. They are professionals and will know the best places to put these stations for maximum effectiveness.

• Don’t wire poison bait blocks directly to tree branches. That could lead to accidental poisoning of cats and birds.

• Make sure your home is sealed before putting out poison bait so the rats don’t enter the house and die, creating a stench it might be hard to get rid of.