Dealing With Rodents

By Author: Bill Sanders
Total Articles: 3
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Rodents are never any fun to deal with, especially when they're invading your home. There are many do-it-yourself products available and often people had rather go that route than call someone to help with the problem. The trouble with rodent bait that you can purchase yourself is that they are very strong and kill the rodent as soon as they ingest the product, so they're there, dead in your home. Rodents are actually very smart, so if they see one of their buddies lying dead by the bait you have put out, they are more than likely not going to go near it. Products that pest control companies use are commercial grade, so they have a different effect on the rodents. Contrac Blox is one brand that is preferred by pest control companies. There are several things about the Contrac Blox that make it stand out among competitors. First of all, it is extremely appetizing to rodents, and at the same time has multiple edges that appeal to their desire to chew on things. It is also designed to withstand wet weather conditions. Another more desirable feature of the Contrac Blox is that it is formulated to slowly kill the rodent. Typically ...
... after ingestion, it takes anywhere from 24-48 hours to take effect. During this time, the rodent feels the repercussions of ingesting the product, which can include disorientation, dehydration and lethargy. Their instinct tells them to flee your home in search of water and fresh air; therefore, they normally do not die in your home. This keeps you from having to deal with the unpleasant odors this can cause.

You may ask, "Why should I kill these creatures? They're not bothering me?" Well, as a matter of fact, they could be bothering you without you even realizing it. Mice and rats can transmit over 35 diseases and bacteria to humans. This can include but is not limited to food poisoning, leptospirosis, rickettsialpox, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. They can also carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, which have the potential to spread other diseases like bubonic plague. Surprisingly enough, rodents contaminate or consume around 20% of the world's food supply. Their gnawing instinct and habits can cause extensive structural damage and have been known to cause fires from gnawing on electrical wires. Rodents are a serious threat to restaurants. Even a single rodent can wreak havoc at food services businesses. They can cause severe problems, including fines, poor inspection scores, unhappy employees and lost business. Not only do rodents cause problems that are evident to the eye, but they can also cause people to have anxiety issues. Even though you may see only one tiny mouse in your home, the bad news is that often means there are hundreds more nearby. Once they get into your home, they set up camp and begin breeding; they're never "just passing through." Female mice and rats can have as many as 10 litters per year and anywhere from 4-14 pups per litter. Rats are extremely resilient creatures. They can hold their breath for an extended period of time and have been known to come up through toilets in homes, as they have learned to survive and flourish in sewers. They must have water to survive and can find that from just about any source, including puddles, sinks and condensation from pipes. They can live on just about any food source, even dead rats. So, the next time you see a furry little creature with beady eyes staring at you from the corner of your living room, call a pest control company and have the issue resolved!
Bill Sanders is the gereral manager of a large pest control company in theSeattle Washington and Portland Oregon areas.