Is Your Home A Fire Risk From Rodent Infestation?

One of the most hated pests that can invade our homes come from the rodent family, these furry but definitely not cute little invaders can carry both disease and damage the fabric of our homes.

The most common rodents that are found today tend to be the common house mouse and the brown rat. The rat that is known to spread the most disease (the black or ships rat) is now not widespread as in previous generations.

Fortunately as with most things in life research has led to better and products to help rodent control so they are in most places not so much of a severe problem any more.

Many people use pest control products off the shelf but some like to try their own DIY pest control, this is often done by placing traps to catch the rat or mouse, or even poisons.

Rats have been identified as carriers for a number of diseases and are most commonly known as being the source of the bubonic plague which caused so much disease and death over the centuries. Today this is not an issue and some people even keep pet rats.

All said and done disease risk has been reduced but rats can carry food poisoning organisms for example salmonella, and food may also be contaminated by contact with the rats droppings, urine or other contaminated bodies. To most people any rodent infestation is unacceptable and should be dealt with at the first opportunity.

One major concern of poisoning from rats is Weil’s disease this is found in some 70% of rats, this is a serious risk to people exposed to waters contaminated by infected rats.

There are other considerations apart from diseases of course and that is the damage that rodents can inflict on the fabric of your home. Rodents have an insatiable need to constantly gnaw to wear down their teeth which are constantly growing. Electrical cables and pipes are a particular favourite and can be damaged sufficiently to cause a fire risk.

Rats breed prolifically but not as much as mice do, in the most ideal conditions a single pair could quite easily produce over 1500 young per year so early eradication is vital before they become too well established.