Your home a winter wonderland for rodents

There are predominantly three main rodent species in South Africa namely the Norway or Brown rat, Roof or House Rat and the House mice. The word commensal is often synonymous with rodents as it literally means eating at the same table. Rodents will eat your food, damage your possessions and also spread disease throughout your home.

Domestic rodents are considered pests for the following three reasons:

1. Loss of food supplies

House mice and Roof rats are known to consume both stored food and growing crops such as rice, maize and sugar cane fields also contaminating food as they feed.

2. Damage to structures and materials

Rodents can cause severe damage to electricity and water supply equipment due to their gnawing and burrowing, as well as undermining the building structures.

3. Transmission of disease

All three of the mentioned species can spread Salmonella through their droppings. Infected rats also transmit the bubonic plaque and Murine typhus to humans through fleas. In addition rat bites are known to be infectious.

There are five golden rules to remember when managing rodent infestations in and around your home:

1. Inspection

Have a look around your home and try to determine where there infestation is coming from. Look for smear marks, droppings, food and structural damage.

2. Identification

By inspecting the rodent's droppings, you will be able to determine which of the three typical species you have in your home, which in turn will allow you to determine the correct way to eliminate the problem.

3. Sanitation

In order to remove the rodent you need to make sure that you remove its food sources. This includes making sure that all food and feed are stored in sealed containers as well as removing water sources such as stagnant pools, fountains and ponds.

4. Rodent proofing

Closing off all the typical places which would give rodents a gateway into your home is very important, therefore pay attention to holes in exterior walls and make sure to screen your down pipes leading in and out of the gutter.

5. Applying rodenticide

When deciding what rodenticide to use make sure that you read the label carefully as the incorrect use or using the incorrect rodenticide can lead to the damaging of the environment as well as to the accidental poisoning of pets.

It is advisable to contact a professional pest control company who are trained to safely rid premises of rats and mice. For more information visit www.rentokil.co.za or www.rentokil.com/blog, Rentokil's informative blog for more information on rats, mice and other household pests.