In the U.S. alone, rats cause roughly $20 billion in damage to homes, businesses, and agriculture every year. Team AIPM has received and responded to dozens of rodent infestation calls throughout our service territories in Northern California and Nevada recently.
When it comes to rodent infestations, time is of the essence. In addition to being highly intrusive, rodents also breed at a rapid pace, making their behavior all the more destructive. Here are a few ways rodents can cause damage to your home or business, and what you can do to reduce your risk.
Electrical Danger
Have you ever wondered why rodents would chew on electrical wiring? Well, the truth is they’ll chew on just about anything. With rapidly growing teeth, rodents are constantly looking for things to chew on in order to file down their long pearly whites. Electrical damage caused by rodents is not only costly but can be incredibly dangerous. Fires can start quite easily if the protective covering is gnawed from the wires. In fact, up to 20% of undetermined fires in the U.S. are believed to be started by rodent damage. Be sure to evaluate any accessible wiring on an annual basis, minimum, for signs of disruption.
Structurally Unsound
Mice, rats and other rodents do not discriminate when it comes to where they will build their nests or homes. Walls, attics, and insulated areas are common spaces rodents like to invade and make their own. In some cases, the disturbances caused by rodents can actually cause structural damage or create entry points for more pests to enter the structure. Qualified pest professionals understand the importance of preventing such occurrences and will regularly look out for signs of entry or infestation.
Irreplaceable Items
Some of the most devastating damage caused by rodents and other pests are the items that cannot be easily repurchased, such as family heirlooms, artwork, or photographs. Such items are often stored in the very spaces rodents prefer to inhabit; attics, basements, sheds, and garages. While rats and mice have been known to chew through anything, belongings kept in a sturdy, lockable storage bin will be much less likely to be damaged than those in cardboard boxes or plastic bags.
Healthy Habits
Another cost that is hard to put a price tag on is that of your health. The feces, urine, scratches, and bites of various rodents can transmit multiple diseases and illnesses to inhabitants of a home or businesses recently affected by a rodent infestation. The CDC keeps an updated list of diseases caused by rodents to encourage home and business owners to do what they can to reduce their risk.
Peace of Mind
At the end of the day, one of the worst things a rodent infestation can cause is the stress and worry associated with the many risks they carry with their presence. The pest professionals at Natural Pest Solutions have over 35 years of experience in the prevention and removal of rodents from the smallest apartment to the largest commercial facility.
Natural Pest Solutions
3639 N Marshall Way Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone (480) 525-5359
https://mynaturalpestsolutions.com/arizona/pest-control-scottsdale-az/