New Jersey may seem small compared to other states, but people still flock to the "Garden State." Some say it is one of America's most densely populated states. Whether folks live on the coast, in forested areas, or in big cities, New Jersians often deal with a common pest in their homes—rodents. When rodents sneak into area properties, homeowners need rodent control in New Jersey to stop mice and rats from overpopulating their homes.
Rodent Behavior Insights: Navigating The Habits of Mice And Rats
No matter which part of New Jersey you call home, mice and rats will surely be around. Local homes can become valuable resources for rodents in NJ searching for water, food, and shelter. With this in mind, homeowners must learn how to identify and navigate issues with these pests.
Mice and rats prefer to set up nests in low-traffic (quiet, sheltered) areas of homes. Their favorite nesting sites include attics, inside wall voids, basements, crawl spaces, and cluttered spaces. These nocturnal rodents typically leave their nests to forage for food and water at night. Mice stay close to food sources (10-25 feet), but rats will travel longer distances (25-100 feet). Mice tend to gravitate towards cereals and grains but also enjoy sweets, nuts, butter, and bacon (high protein sources). Brown rats favor meats, cereals, fish, and dog food, while black rats enjoy vegetables and fruits.
Mice are naturally curious and like to investigate new things in their environment, so trying to catch them returning to a specific location can prove challenging. Rats are more cautious, which makes them wary of new things; if they don't like something, they won't return, but if rats discover an excellent food source, they often return to the same area repeatedly.
Understanding rodent habits and behaviors can help folks recognize potential infestations early. With the help of Heritage Pest, homeowners can access professional rodent removal services that entirely remove rodents from New Jersey homes.
Health Risks Of Rodent Invasions: Protecting Your Family And Pets
The health risks associated with rodent infestations are numerous; here are three:
- Rodents are contaminators; they drop their feces, urinate, and salivate on items.
- Exposure to rodent pathogens (bacteria) can expose people to diseases such as tularemia, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), rat bite fever, jaundice, cowpox virus, and trichinosis.
- Dried feces and urine droplets that float in the air can aggravate people who battle allergies and asthma.
- Other common household pests like lice, ticks, and fleas often live on the bodies of mice and rats and carry and transmit their own set of health problems.
When rodents gain access to your home, so do their buddies, who bring many different issues into homeowners' homes.
All household members (including your pets) are in danger when mice and rats roam freely about homes. The sooner New Jersey homeowners use a professional pest company like Heritage Pest to eliminate rodents, the better.
Proactive Rodent Control: Preventing Infestations Before They Begin
Regular preventative maintenance measures are the best way to stay proactive against rodent visits. Using preventive strategies, homeowners can do much to create a barrier around their homes that will help deter mice and rat visits.
Some rodent control measures that can help with rodent prevention include the following:
- Fix plumbing problems and keep drains free-flowing.
- Keep crawl spaces, attics, and basements dry and well-ventilated.
- Place screens over chimney and vent openings.
- Attach door sweeps to outside doors.
- Seal cracks and gaps with caulk or steel wool.
- Keep homes clean.
Taking steps to prevent rodent invasions is wise, but even the best preventative measures sometimes fail. If rodents manage to get indoors, it's good to know Heritage Pest is nearby and can respond quickly to rodent concerns.
Professional Rodent Control: Why Expertise Matters
Handling rodents or even breathing in the dust from rodent feces can expose homeowners to health issues, so it is vital to use the experts at Heritage Pest for rodent pest control. Since 1989, Heritage Pest's family-owned and operated company has excelled in using safe control measures that exclude harmful pests from homes without harming the environment. Our experts use their extensive knowledge and training to safely and efficiently remove rodents from homes. Contact Heritage Pest today for reliable, eco-friendly New Jersey rodent control services.