We've all seen the nature documentaries, showing a category of mammal - small, brown, short lived, breeds in huge numbers. Whether they're rats, mice or another rodent, they're all pests that can do a number on your home, your family's health and your garden.
Mice in the attic aren't "cute little fuzzies" - they're one of the leading causes of household damage in the world, with estimated damages in the billions. How can something so small be so expensive? Well, rodents in general breed quickly, and can have multiple litters of a dozen or more young each year. They also have teeth that need constant grinding down; they solve this problem by gnawing on things. In the wild, these things tend to be tree stumps or roots as they burrow. In your home, they're plumbing fixtures and wiring runs. Rodents are one of the major causes of short circuits, leaking pipes and insulation failures.
While rodents are predominantly herbivores, their droppings have an odour, and so does their urine. They'll drop a pellet wherever they walk, which, since they want concealment all the time, means they'll accumulate in places that are impossible to get at - behind appliances, in crawl ways, and in walls. One rodent isn't bad - but the breeding rate of rodents means that there's never just one.
While there are very few diseases that transfer directly from rodents, rodents carry mites and fleas and other parasites that DO carry diseases that can cross over to humans.
Rickettsial Pox - A disease similar to chicken pox transmitted from the mites commonly found on rodents.
Salmonella - Food poisoning is a common problem when food comes in contact with saliva, urine or droppings of rats and mice.
Parasites - Many parasites can be transmitted to humans, particularly tapeworm and Trichinosis.
The Hantavirus - This potentially life threatening disease is spread via the inhalation of dust containing rodent droppings or urine.
Rat-bite fever - This is a rare disease and as the name suggests is transmitted through a bite from a rodent.
Plague - Another rare and old disease that is re-emerging. It is generally transmitted by fleas that piggyback on an infected rodent.
Let's look at some things that you can do to help keep these diseases away from your house.
The first thing you must do is seal up cracks around pipes, windows, and doors. Even the smallest crack can allow entrance to your home for many rodents. An inexpensive tube of caulking will go a long way toward this end.
One of the best weapons you can have is a natural predator. Cats are a good natural solution to a rodent problem.
While not as effective as a good cat, glue traps and sticky boards are an effective way to control these pests, as are baited spring traps. The best baits are peanut butter, yogurt covered peanuts, and bits of bacon. Avoid using poisons; not only are they a risk to your children or pets, but you end up with rat carcasses rotting in inaccessible places. Leave poisoning rodents to professionals.
If you have seen one or two rodents then you have a minor issue that you should be able to take care of on your own, however if you have a larger infestation or live in an area of Sydney that is prone to other pests like termites you might want to consider seeking professional help and having your house checked for other pests at the same time.
