Rodent Exterminator
In the Old West, their pictures would have circled the nation as public enemy number one. Today, they are in every state and almost every city in the United States. They're not ancestors of Billy the Kid, but mice and rats. In South Florida, Miami and West Palm Beach made the list of the 50 most rat-infested cities. Unfortunately for residents of Broward County, our homes and businesses lie right between those two. It's just a matter of time before the vermin meets in the middle and propels some of our cities onto the list.
The three most common in our region would also be in the pest lineups around the country, the Norway and Roof Rats, and the common house mouse. All three are commensal, from Latin meaning "to eat at the same table." In modern terms, these creatures live wherever people are living, and if you've had an infestation, you know they are sharing more than our tables. These rodents consume and contaminate about 20% of the world's food supply annually.
It's not just the stereotypical housewife jumping on the table because she is scared of a mouse, seventeen percent of people are a little afraid of them, and 9% are very afraid. Even more people are afraid of rats because they are bigger, more aggressive, and can attack when cornered.
Their physical appearance is just one reason behind the anxiety they cause. There are over 35 known diseases that can be transmitted from rodents to humans, and many of them don't require a bite. They can be passed through contact with the animal's saliva, urine, and feces, from eating contaminated food or being bitten by one of the parasites they carry, like ticks and fleas. These pathogens include Salmonellosis, Leptospirosis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and Rat-bite Fever.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves between the two rats, the Roof from above and the Norway from below. Roof rats can nest in trees, and that's bad news for South Floridians with palm trees everywhere you look. From there, it's a hop, skip, and jump onto your roof and then down the chimney or vents and into your attic. Once in, they use their ever-growing incisors to tear apart insulation, chew through wood, and gnaw on electrical wiring. Norway Rats get us from the ground. They are common along the coast and canals, and those things are all through Broward County. They dig in the garbage and can get under the foundations of homes and buildings. Their burrows cause voids that can lead to cracks in the foundation, which are expensive to fix.
The house mouse loves to eat our food, and they don't need much daily to survive, barely 1/10th of an ounce and only 1/20th of an ounce of water. They do, however, contaminate more than ten times what they eat. Exposure to their urine can cause allergic reactions in children. They are extremely fast breeders, so it is critical the get rid of them quickly.
These rodents can be a threat to our homes and health. At the first clue of their presence,
contact All Nix Services. We are the leading rodent exterminator in Broward County, and we understand the uneasiness these creatures can cause. Get started today with a free estimate.