Dangerous Diseases & Damage from Rodents

A rat chewing on a wire is one of the many dangers of rodents. Johnson Pest Control can protect you from rodents in Sevierville TN.If you own a home or a business in Tennessee, the last thing you want to deal with is a rodent infestation. In addition to simply being gross, rats and mice can cause property damage and spread disease. Some of the most infamous diseases that have been tied back to rats and mice include salmonella and hantavirus, among others. Rodents can cause a lot of destruction and create a hazardous environment inside your property, making it important to always work with a rodent exterminator who can protect you from the many dangers of rodents.

What Types of Diseases Are Spread by Rodents?

Diseases associated with rodents can be transmitted directly through human contact or indirectly through infested fleas and ticks. The main rat-borne diseases to remember include:

  • Hantavirus
    • Most often found in the urine and feces of deer mice, hantavirus can cause symptoms from fever and chills to aches in pains. In serious cases, it can lead to kidney failure or worse.
  • Salmonella
    • The bacteria spread by rats and mice can track onto food. The most infamous bacteria is of course salmonella, known as food poisoning.
  • Lyme Disease
    • This is of course transmitted by ticks, which are often carried by rats and mice. This disease is dangerous and can have long-term effects on health.
  • Plague
    • Historically, the bubonic plague was caused by infected fleas that were carried by rats and mice. Even though this was centuries ago, the same disease can still be spread today.

Property Damage from Rats & Mice

One of the most commonly known facts about rats is the fact that rats possess incisors that never stop growing. This causes them to chew on anything and everything, including the wires inside your home. Needless to say, this can be extremely dangerous and create a fire hazard. Additionally, rats and mice will tear through a number of materials to create nests. Rats are also known to cut through tough materials, endangering the very structure of your property.

How to Prevent Rodent Damage

To avoid dealing with the many dangers of rodents, it’s recommended to work with a professional rodent exterminator. At Johnson Pest Control, our team will work with you to customize a rodent control plan suited to the unique needs of your property. We guarantee our services will keep you, your family, and your Sevierville TN home or business protected from rats and mice all year long!

Rodents Poised to Invade Homes This Winter

Rodents on a wooden table with long curved tails - keep rodents away from your home with Johnson Pest Control in TNWith the arrival of cooler temperatures across the East Tennessee, rodents will begin to seek shelter from the elements – often in people’s homes. To promote public vigilance against the hazards rodents can pose when they invade structures, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests, recognizes November 15-21 as Rodent Awareness Week. We at Johnson Pest Control are proud to take part in this observance by educating homeowners about the threat of rodents and how they can lessen their chances of an infestation.

Each winter, rodents invade an estimated 21 million U.S. homes, bringing with them threats to human health and property. Rodents are most likely to cause problems in this time of year, so it’s important for homeowners to take steps to keep them out before they become an issue.

Mice and rats can spread a vast array of diseases, including Salmonella, murine typhus, infectious jaundice and rat-bite fever. A buildup of rodent droppings can cause indoor allergies and since mice tend to urinate constantly, the risk of contamination of food surfaces and equipment is high. Rodents are also capable of chewing through drywall, insulation, wood and electrical wiring, increasing the potential risk for fires.

NPMA offers the following rodent prevention tips:

  • Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
  • Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
  • Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home, using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.
  • Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
  • Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
  • Replace loose mortar and weather-stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
  • Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
  • Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages for evidence of rodents before bringing them indoors.
  • Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and keep shrubbery trimmed and cut back from the house.

We encourage homeowners to keep an eye out for signs that rodents may have taken up residence in their home, including droppings, scurrying noises at night, gnaw marks, damaged food packaging and burrows in secluded areas.

Contact us today to find out more ways to protect your home against rodents and the upcoming winter.