If there's one pest that's well known to people in New York, it's the rodent. While there are multiple rodent species in New York, the most common are mice and rats. Both are known to invade the home and cause numerous problems for property owners.

At first glance, they seem quite similar, but they have key differences that influence their behavior. Mice are usually grey and quite small, only around four inches long. They also are less territorial. Rats, on the other hand, are generally brown or black and significantly larger. They are known to be territorial when food is scarce.

Rodent Dangers

Right away, a rodent infestation means property damage. Mice and rats create holes in the walls, and they chew everything since their teeth never stop growing. This constant chewing will lead to problems such as chewed walls, holes in clothing, and other similar issues when not addressed quickly enough.

Along with property damage, rodents carry and transmit pathogens and diseases to humans. They can transmit these diseases through a bite, contact with their droppings or urine, and general contamination from them running across surfaces. Some common illnesses associated with rodents are rat-bite fever, hantavirus, bubonic plague, salmonella, tularemia, and more.

Rodents also carry fleas, which can bring their set of pathogens to the party. Between the property damage and the potential for contracting severe illnesses, professional rodent control is necessary for all affected New York property owners.

3 Prevention Tips You Can Count On

Ideally, you should take the appropriate steps to prevent a rodent infestation before it begins. Prevention is much easier than removal. To help you get started, we've listed the three things you can do now to prevent future infestations.

1. Seal up the entry points. By far, this is the most important. Mice can slip through spaces as small as a nickel, while rats only need a hole as big as a half dollar. For this reason, you should seal up even the tiniest crack or hole to prevent access.
2. Trap them. While this isn't a great method of controlling an existing population, this can be a fairly effective prevention technique. Focus on high traffic spots like along the walls or the furniture. If they enter into a house that's already armed, they'll be warier of establishing a nest.
3. Clean everything. Rodents are gross. They make nests and scavenge for food. The more you clean the house and remove food sources, the less likely they are to stick around. Make sure everything is properly stored and wiped down. Vacuum and sweep regularly, and be sure to take the trash out frequently.

DIY Pest Control Is A No-No

If rodents do invade your property, you may be tempted to use DIY methods for rodent removal. However, rodent control is much more difficult when they've already invaded, mainly due to their prolific nature. Rodents reproduce rapidly, and most DIY solutions focus on one-on-one situations. As such, you'll quickly be trying to play catch up.

Also, rodents are smart and sneaky. They can hide better than you think. Plus, if they're already in the house, they know when something is out of the ordinary and naturally avoid it, making traps an ineffective method for complete rodent removal despite its potential as a preventative tool.

Rodent Prevention With BHB Pest Elimination

Rodents create problems for everyone, whether it's property damage or a threat to your health., which is why professional assistance is so crucial. At BHB Pest Elimination, we focus on providing quality home pest control that delivers guaranteed results to ensure your rodent problem becomes a thing of the past.

Do you need effective rodent control for your New York property? Then call BHB Pest Elimination, or go online to schedule your free inspection and start benefitting from rodent control services today.