Deer mice may seem cute and innocent, but they're not. They're constantly foraging for food and your home is no exception. They'll burrow through walls and sneak under cracks to access your kitchen. They also leave behind droppings, which carry a dangerous virus known as hantavirus. Consider these tips to keep deer mice and their viruses out of your home.
Deer mice have white feet, a white stomach and a brown back, the University of California, Davis stated. They have larger ears and eyes than the house mouse. These mice have strong teeth that can gnaw through electrical wiring and walls, leaving your home in shambles. Once the mice go through the walls, they'll make nests and die there. The bodies decompose quickly, leaving a resonating odor. The mice will try to build their homes in basements, attics, walls and storage areas.
Deer mice are one of the few rodents that carry this virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted. There are multiple strains of the virus. One of the strains can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, which is a deadly disease. However, not all mice carry hantavirus. Since there's no way of knowing if a deer mouse carries the virus, it's best to prevent them in the home and properly clean up any droppings you see. People can contract the disease just by breathing in the air when infected droppings are stirred up. People can also get it from touching droppings and then touching their face or from a mouse bite.
If you do have a deer mice infestation, call pest services professionals immediately. Handling mice extermination yourself is a dangerous job and could harm you.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
