How Rodent Infestations Can Harm Your Home and Health

As winter approaches and the temperatures in Tampa Bay begin to cool, you may notice a rodent or two in or around your home as they look for food and shelter. But this could be a sign of an infestation. Rodent infestations can cause illnesses, property damage, and discomfort. Learn why you should address a rodent infestation as soon as possible to protect your family and home from harm.

Rodents Carry Diseases

Rodents such as rats and mice are notorious for carrying diseases, parasites, viruses, and bacteria. If they’re in your home, they can pass these illnesses to you and your family through bites, droppings, or by getting into your food or water.

Rat Bite Fever 

Despite its name, you don’t have to be bitten by a rat to contract rat bite fever (RBF)—just make some form of skin contact with the rodent. RBF can be a serious infection and even deadly. If you notice a fever, nausea, vomiting, body aches, or a skin rash after contact with a rodent, go to a doctor immediately. 

Salmonella

If rodent droppings contaminate your food, you run the risk of contracting salmonella. Salmonella causes stomach distress and symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Salmonella can be dangerous for young children, so you’ll want to keep rodents away from your food sources. 

Leptospirosis

Caused by contact with rodent saliva, this bacteria causes fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches, and stomach distress. Because it mimics so many other illnesses, you may not know you have it. But left untreated, leptospirosis can cause serious symptoms like kidney or liver failure or even death. 

Airborne Mouse Allergen

While not directly a disease, mice can irritate allergies and asthma symptoms. This is very common in cities where rodents are highly prevalent, and the Tampa Bay area is in the top 50 of most rodent-infested cities—increasing respiratory issues in our population. 

Rodents Damage Your Home

A rodent infestation poses more than just a threat to your health—it also risks your home. Rodents like to chew and will do so on almost any surface they can, causing damage to your home and belongings. 

Structural Damages

Rodents will chew through walls, wooden beams, and even concrete to create pathways for themselves within your home. You may not even be fully aware of the damage that is happening if they’re doing it out of sight. But these damages can lead to costly repairs once you uncover the infestation.

Electrical Damages

Rodents in Tampa Bay have been known to chew on wire, either to clear their path or maintain their teeth. Not only does this damage your electric items, but it can cause power outages, short circuits, and serious fire hazards. If you have an infestation, you’ll want to call in an electrician and pest control in the Tampa Bay area to keep your home safe. 

Pipe Damages

Don’t think metal will stop rodents. Rodents have been known to chew through metal pipes, causing water leaks and even flooding in people’s homes. This can also increase the risk of damage to wiring and become a dangerous fire hazard if the wires are also chewed through.

Rodents Disturb Your Peace of Mind

Rodents can cause illness and damage to your home, but they also can affect your peace of mind in your own home. Any infestation can leave you feeling like your home has been taken over, especially when you notice the signs that they’re there. 

Ruined Food

Rodents are going to be attracted to your kitchen and food. Signs that you have rodents digging through your kitchen are chewed-through bags and boxes and droppings around your cabinet and pantry. Eating food that’s been spoiled by rodents can lead to many of the illnesses we listed before, so if you have reason to believe your food has been contaminated, it’s best to throw it out, carefully seal food that hasn’t been ruined, and call pest control in Tampa Bay immediately. 

Bad Odor

From droppings, urine, and dirt, rodents can cause an odor in your home. You may notice the smell is stronger closer to nests and areas with a high concentration of droppings. What you are smelling is their urine—if you unexpectedly smell a musty or stale ammonia odor, you likely have a rodent infestation. 

Free Your Home from Rodents with Anti-Pesto

We know how important it is to keep you, your family, and your home safe from rodents in Florida. The best way to avoid illness and damage from a rodent infestation is to call us as soon as you recognize the problem. We’ll be able to get rid of your rodent problem and provide a barrier to prevent future infestations—we can even be there within the same day of your call if you contact us before noon. Don’t share your home with rodents. Call Anti-Pesto today.