Rodents in NYC: Identification, Diseases, and Prevention

 Rodents can range from guinea pigs to mice, but the ones we have to be most careful about are the ones that hideout in corners of our houses and nibble away at anything can get their hands on, aka house mice and roof rats. When you need a rodent exterminator, call Control Exterminating.

 A survey done by the National Pest Management Association or (NPMA) says that rodents have been responsible for problems to at least 29% of Americans and that most infestations occurred during the colder months as that is when rodents are looking for shelter from the cold.

New York Rats and Rodent Population

New York City is one of the largest metropolitans in the world. The city hosts a very large population of people. The city also has many hotels, homes and other commercial premises where people spend their days.

However, the city’s peace has been under threat due to the massive rat problem. Rats in NYC have been on the rise in recent years. The effects of rats in New York have been so devastating that NYC mayor declared total war against these rodents. The mayor, Mr. Bill De Blasio promised to eradicate these rats in the most affected places.

The Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn are the most rat-infested zones in the city. The mayor promised to eradicate at least 70% of the rats by the end of 2018. In his plan, the mayor intends to cover all dirty floors in publicly used buildings.

“Downtown rats are more used to household trash, unlike the uptown ones that are used to offices. The study also revealed that rats New York rarely migrate from one place to another.”

He also intends to put 336 new rat-proof garbage bins. These bins compact garbage with solar energy. These new bins are supposed to add on the 1,100 bins already present in the city.

A study conducted in the city revealed very interesting results. The researching team wanted to find whether there existed similarities between rats in the downtown and uptown (Upper West side) areas. They found that a New York City rat can be identified according to its residents.

The rat population in NYC adapt to the environments where they live. Downtown rats are more used to household trash, unlike the uptown ones that are used for offices.

The study also revealed that rats in New York rarely migrate from one place to another. A rat family occupies one resident for many years. This means that the uptown and downtown NYC rats do not mix at any time.

Identification of Rodents

The places that these rodents choose to infest the most include kitchens, laundry rooms, attics, garages and basements where they would be least seen. 

These places provide just the right environments for them to reproduce which can range up to 12 offsprings in a matter of 2 to 3 weeks. Rodents are known to urinate constantly everywhere they tread, which means anyone around the house could be contaminated with it, mostly children and toddlers, which could affect their health badly.

Nibbling away at food, clothes, and furniture are not the only downsides to rodent infestations. These rodents usually come in from the outside, most likely the sewer, which means they are contaminated with tonnes of germs and carry diseasing causing parasites such as fleas, ticks, and lice, not to mention they also spread salmonella.

All these make touching them with bare hands a risk to the person, and anything else you use to exterminate them with becomes infected.

Types of Rodent Infestations

  • The Norway Rat 

This is a rat that is also referred to as a sewer rat. The roof rat likes to be higher off the ground than the Norway rat. This is why the Norway rat is usually found lower on the ground. They are brown and fat. Their tails are shorter than the roof rat, and they are generally found under wood or in trash bins.

Our exterminators usually find this type of rat under your building or homes foundation. Anytime you see a rat around your property, it is probably a Norway rat.

  • Roof Rat 

A black rat is the same as a roof rat. They usually can be seen climbing on things, such as ledges and cabinets. They are also found in tree shrubs and branches.

The NYC exterminators that work with us know precisely where to find these types of rats. They often find their nests high off the ground. The roof rat comes down to locate food. Unfortunately, this type of rat also enjoys living indoors since it’s generally warmer than outdoors.

  • Mice

Mice are significantly smaller than rats. They can be found in apartments, houses, offices, restaurants and also outdoors. They are hard to find because most of the time they are hiding and waiting for things to be quiet to go outside. 

a mouse on the white background
Mouse

“These rodents usually come in from the outside, most likely the sewer, which means they are contaminated with germs and carry diseasing causing parasites such as fleas, ticks, and lice, not to mention they also spread salmonella.

 

What You Can Do If You Have Rats

Rodents like mice and rats can squeeze themselves through the tiniest of holes, ones as small as a quarter. They can also chew through pretty much anything in their way including wood and electric wires which increases the risk of electrical fires in the home.

All throughout their life, their incisors keep growing, and that means their ability to bite gets better every day. All this makes it essential sealing any cracks, holes or openings around the house.

This also means that can be hiding out anywhere from storage boxes to furniture to drawers contaminating anything and everything in their way. You can seal these small spaces with cement if the gaps are large, or with regular seals for smaller ones. 

Proper drainage is also necessary, so there is not stored water body anywhere in the house. All of these can get confusing, and this is where experienced professionals like Control Exterminating come in.

Devastating Effects of Rats

These small gnawing mammals are capable of causing devastating damage to homes and offices. A mouse and a rat are capable of entering through a tiny opening. They mostly come to the houses through gaps in the roof and ceiling. These rodents are also excellent swimmers.

This means that rats can stay in the water for an extended period without dying. Rats can swim their way into the house through sewers and drainage pipes. Once in the house, rats contaminate foods and water. They are also carriers of many diseases that affect human beings.

A Rodent Infestation Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Here are some health problems you may not be aware of that can become a problem when you have a rodent infestation.

  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

You can get HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) from a bite or from inhaling the feces or urine of rodents infected with HPS. The worst part is that if you come in contact with HPS, you can develop a life-threatening infection.

  • Leptospirosis

Although other pests carry this same disease, the rodent is the one that is most commonly known to carry Leptospirosis. This disease can be contracting by merely coming into contact with a rodent that is infected or being bitten by one that is infected.

Symptoms include vomiting, respiratory issues, diarrhea, jaundice, and liver failure. Some people with underlying health issues have died from Leptospirosis.

  • Rat Bite Fever

Despite the name of this disease, you don’t necessarily get a rat-bite fever from just being bitten by a rat. You can develop it by being bitten by any other type of rodent. If you’ve developed rat bite fever, you will know because, after a few days, you will develop a rash, fever, chills and muscle aches.

How to Prevent Rodent Infestation

Rodents are always in search of food and water and will get in any home that they find access to. If you want to stop rodents from getting into your home you can follow these few steps on to how to prevent rodent infestation and keep rodents out of your home:

Clean Up After Eating

A rodent such as a rat or a mouse does not need much to sustain its life. They need small crumbs that are easily found in most homes across the United States. The best way that you can take their meal away is to clean up after eating.

The kitchen is the best spot for a rodent to get what they need. So make sure take time to clean off the counters and floors and pick up the crumbs. Also, make sure that you don’t leave any dirty dishes in the sink.

closed jars on kitchen shelves to avoid rats and mice

 “Be sure that after you use sweet sticky sauces such as honey or syrup you wipe off the top and anywhere the syrup or honey has spilled.”

Sealing Up Food Helps Aids in Pest Prevention

A rodent can smell open food and is often able to get to it; even if it is in a closed cupboard. Take any open containers of food and place them in a sealed bag or container to be sure that rodents and other pests have no access to it.

Also be sure that after you use sweet sticky sauces such as honey or syrup you wipe off the top and anywhere the syrup or honey has spilled.

Sealing Cracks

A full-grown mouse can fit through a small hole in the wall or door the size of a nickel. It does not take much for them to sneak in and start to burrow into the wall and attic space. Take time to look around the home inside and out and be sure that you look for small gaps in the wall.

You should also be sure to check the doors and windows for space that a rodent can get in. You can seal these gaps with weather stripping or caulking that you can pick up at any home improvement store.

A full-grown mouse can fit through a small hole in the wall or door the size of a nickel. It does not take much for them to sneak in and start to burrow into the wall and attic space. 

We Can Help

Control exterminating has been in the pest exterminating business for a long time, and they will be able to provide you with the right kind of seals for gaps and voids and will be able to guide you on where to place your drainage system and even do it for you.

They can identify gaps and rodent hideouts which we may not be able to do insight, and will be able to get rid of them completely which might not be possible with simple home tricks. 

Rodents are hard to exterminate, so getting professional help is very important for the cleanliness and good health of the home and its people.

If you ever come across even the slightest sign of rodent infestation call Control Exterminating and they will be able to properly go through your home, confirm the pest and recommend the right solution for the right pest to be exterminated.

Not only that Control Exterminating will also be able to advise how to prevent any future contaminations from rodents or any other pests that might be lurking in your home. 

Call Control Exterminating in Manhattan, New York to make an appointment to have your home rid of rodents and other pests today!***

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