Rodent Rundown: Keeping These Dangerous Pests Away From Your Property In The Bay Area

Living in the Bay Area is full of excitement. From access to world renowned cultural centers and restaurants to some of the most breathtaking vistas in the country, there is a lot to love about life here. What residents don’t love, however, are the rodent infestations that can seemingly happen for no reason at all. Locals will likely encounter squirrels, rats, and mice, whether that’s inside or outside of the home. These animals are unpredictable at points, which means that the health risks and property damage that they cause can feel like it comes out of nowhere. But just because you can’t see rodents doesn’t mean that they aren’t crafty and hard at work. They are largely nocturnal and live in places that you can’t see. 

At Bay Pest, we specialize in Bay Area rodent control that is backed by over 40 years of expertise. Our services are designed to not only evict active rodents but to also keep future ones from getting inside of your home. The following guide will help you understand rodents and the way they operate more clearly, but if you feel that you might have rodents present in your home, call us today for a free inspection. 

Types Of Rodents Common To The Area 

While rodents often share some common characteristics, it’s important for Bay Area residents to understand that there are different rodents that will interact with their property differently. Some of the area’s common rodents include:

• Roof rats: This type of rat is also known as the Norway rat. They are regarded as exceptionally skilled climbers, hence their name. The roof rat is often a dark brown or black in coloring and measures approximately six to eight inches in size. They will have larger ears, eyes, and other features than a mouse, which is also helpful in distinguishing the two quickly. These rats also have a long, hairless tail as well. Given their skills with climbing, the roof rat will often take advantage of overhanging greenery that comes into contact with a home as a way to enter it. They will likely chew on wooden structures and food that is left outside or that is growing in a garden. Because of their size, roof rats are capable of causing significant damage to electrical wires as well. 
• Mice: The main other type of rodent that people might encounter in their homes is mice. These pocket-sized rodents are often gray or light brown in coloring and are much smaller than rats. Mice also have more petite features, which can make them tough to spot but easy to distinguish. They can either live outdoors amidst tall grass or indoors in places like basements, closets, and even behind kitchen appliances. Mice are capable of fitting through very small openings as well, so they can use gaps around doors and windows to enter homes. They can also maneuver through holes around bulkheads or utilize garage doors that are open and unattended. 

For more information on total rodent control, call Bay Pest today!

Rodent Infestations Are A Major Health Risk

One of the most significant issues that rodents pose to Bay Area homeowners is the variety of health risks associated with their presence. While they are also linked with the potential for serious property damage, the health concerns the rodents are associated with can outlast their actual infestation as well. Here are some of the health problems that rodents are affiliated with:

• The spread of other pests: Rodents are commonly hosts to a variety of parasitic pests such as fleas, mites, and ticks. These pests all pose health threats to both people and their pets because they feed off of them. Some of the health risks associated with these pests include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, tapeworm, Lyme disease, anemia, alopecia, and skin infections from excessive scratching. 
• Hantavirus: This particular health issue is a serious concern because it spreads through airborne transmission. That means that simply inhaling air that has been contaminated with droplets from urine, feces, and nesting materials can be hazardous. The symptoms of hantavirus include muscle pain of large muscles, dizziness, full-bodied chills, nausea, and abdominal pain. 
• Tularemia: Tularemia is often contracted by coming into direct physical contact with a rodent that is already infected. Some of the symptoms of tularemia include inflamed eyes, swollen lymph nodes, dry cough, and a sore throat. 
• Salmonellosis: When rodents are carrying salmonella bacteria, they can spread it through their feces. It is then passed along to humans when they ingest infested food items. Symptoms of salmonellosis include fever, headache, abdominal cramps, and chills. 

Because so many of these health problems are spread through rodent droppings, urine, and saliva, thorough sanitation is often required after the removal of an infestation. That’s why Bay Pest is committed to ensuring the safest home possible for all of our customers. For more information on rodent protection in the Bay Area, please call us today. 

Simple Rodent Exclusion Tips That Work 

One of the most effective ways to limit your exposure to rodents is by following exclusion methods that reduce rodents’ food sources and access to your home. Here are a few straightforward options to try:

• Remedy moisture concerns. Rodents not only need a water source, but they thrive in moist conditions. Keep crawl spaces, basements, and attics well ventilated with dehumidifiers and rectify any leaky pipes, fixtures, or gutters. 
• Keep up with your trash. One of the biggest attractions for rodents is garbage bins, whether they’re stored inside or outside. When storing trash, always line kitchen bins with bags and make sure that all receptacles have properly fitting lids. Rinsing cans, bottles, and jars is key before disposing of them as well. Not missing trash collection day is also important so that food items don’t accumulate in the trash. For kitchen trash bins, it may be helpful to clean the ground beneath them routinely in case anything in the trash has spilled. 
• Try to be tidy. In addition to addressing garbage problems, it’s also important to strive for overall cleanliness inside of the home. Rodents thrive in cluttered areas and may even use old boxes and papers for nesting materials, so be sure to clear these items away. It’s also crucial to vacuum and sweep regularly to eliminate extra crumbs. Cleaning counters, stoves, and ovens regularly is also a good idea to do away with food build-up that comes from meal preparation. 
• Keep landscaping manicured. Rodents such as squirrels and rats in particular take advantage of backyards that are unkempt. They will forage in these areas and even use trees that are overhanging as a means of entering a home. In order to reduce the number of ways that rodents can enter the home and hiding spaces in general, be sure to prune trees and hedges routinely and make sure there are no branches coming in contact with your home. 
• Work with a pest control expert. When it comes to dealing with rodents, there is no substitute for the work that a professional can provide. You will benefit from extensive experience and training as well as the best products on the market. 

For more information on rodent exclusion, call Bay Pest today!

The Best Rodent Control Solution For Your Property 

Whether you’ve been struggling with rodent problems for a while or are looking to take a proactive stance against them in the future, Bay Pest can help. We are the Bay Area’s trusted name in quality rodent control and have been for over four decades. Our company is composed of highly trained technicians who have the latest technology and equipment at their disposal. Over the years, countless homeowners have entrusted us with the safety of their properties because not only do we care, but we yield results. 

In order to best serve you, we offer free home inspections to start. This process allows us to understand how rodents are interacting with your property or where they might become an issue, all without putting an undue pressure on you. We also use this as an opportunity to identify any potential rodent damage, identify the species that’s active on your property, and locate entry points that they might be using to get inside of your home. Once we have this information, we’ll put together a customized plan for your home that implements an array of methods. 

Some of the ways that we address rodents include:

• Exclusion: When you choose exclusion, we seal off gaps and openings in your foundation with rodent-proof materials. 
• One-way doors: This method is a reliable way of encouraging rodents to leave your property while also making sure that they can’t gain re-entry. 
• Traps and baits: We often use glue boards, traps, and baits in conjunction with other methods like one-way doors. Once we implement them, we monitor them on a bi-weekly basis until we can confirm that an infestation is entirely gone. 
• Sanitization: Because rodents are linked with health risks that they pass through their feces, urine, and saliva, sometimes sanitizing is necessary to restore the safety of your home. We’ll perform a deep cleaning and deodorize your home so that you can enjoy it once again. 

To learn more about how rodent control can make your life easier, please call us today.