Rodent Awareness Week

Temperatures are dropping here in Indianapolis, and there is a noticeable nip in the air. The 80 and 90 degree days of summer are starting to be replaced with the 60 degree days of fall. And it is only a matter of time before we're hit with the freezing temperatures of winter. It happens every year and, when it does, most of us are going to spend a lot more time inside where it is warm. But, we're not the only ones.

When temperatures drop, rodents begin to look for a place to hide. This will bring them into homes and businesses where they will chew on wood and wire, taint stored foods, leave urine and feces on shelves and inside drawers, spread illness, and bring lice, ticks, mites, fleas, and other parasites in with them. Now is the time to fortify exterior walls and put deterrents in place to keep these creatures out. Now is the time to get help from a professional to create a barrier rodents can't penetrate. But, there are many who don't know this. That is why there is a national movement to bring awareness to this problem.

October 23-29th is rodent awareness week. Here are a few important facts you should know and share during this important week.

• The speed rodents reproduce, coupled with the fact that they can squeeze through openings as small as a dime, is something people should be aware of as we head into the cold months.
• Mice can jump as high as a foot and rats can jump nearly 3 feet. This gives them access to areas many property owners wouldn't expect.
• Rodents can use downspouts to gain access to roof areas. These should be filled with wire mesh to keep rodents out while still allowing water to flow freely.
• A 2013 NPMA survey showed that ? of pest control customers experienced a rodent infestation, with more than half reporting the infestation was in their kitchen.
• Mice urinate constantly. This should be a concern for any property owner who has these animals in their food storage areas or kitchen.
• Rodents are directly linked to the spread of Salmonella, E-coli, and other illnesses.
• Early fall is the time to do a close inspection of exterior walls and seal all possible entry points, store firewood 20 feet away, remove lawn clutter, eliminate areas of standing water or moisture, and put vulnerable stored food in hard plastic containers.

If you need assistance to protect your Indianapolis property from rodent invasion this fall, let the QualityPro-certified team here at Action Pest Control help. We have over 70 state-certified pest management professionals with the advanced training necessary to exclude these fall invaders.

Before rodents enter, take action and get Action.