Myths about Rodents
We came across this helpful article on myPMP(professional pest management).net. You can see an excerpt below or check out their website for the full article!
Few pests generate as many persistent myths as do pest rodents and their management. Who hasn’t heard stories about “rats as big as cats,” and how some rodenticides supposedly make rodents go outside to drink, or perhaps allegedly mummify them?
Here are some of our favorite myths:
MYTH: RATS AND MICE ONLY BREED AND MOVE INDOORS IN THE FALL.
FACT: Rats and mice can breed year-round when there are adequate food, shelter and warm-temperature opportunities. Rats and mice cannot hibernate and will spend more time inside burrows or structures to stay warm during cold weather, but still can explore their environments, looking for food and shelter. Invasions of buildings might be more noticed in the fall, particularly in northern areas after frost, when ground cover is reduced and crop fields have been cut.
MYTH: RATS AND MICE AVOID WATER.
FACT: The Norway rat is an excellent swimmer and can live along streams and rivers. It can catch crayfish, frogs and other aquatic animals to supplement their food. Rats also can survive being carried long distances in floods or on river currents. They will cross ditches and swim drains and stretches of sewer flow to get where they are going. Even mice will swim, and can withstand immersion in water for many hours.
MYTH: RATS AND MICE ARE SHY ANIMALS AND ARE NOT LIKELY TO ACT AGGRESSIVELY OR BITE PEOPLE.
FACT: Rats and mice have survived for thousands of years living with people by being very cautious. Like most animals, however, they can act defensively and can be dangerous when cornered.
Rats can leap or move toward people, and will readily bite when attacked or handled. Their bite can easily penetrate flesh and cause deep puncture wounds that may strike bone or cut nerves, bringing infection and injury. More than 10,000 people are bitten by wild rodents every year in the United States.
If you are dealing with a rodent infestation we can help! Rodents are very clever and tend to be difficult to eliminate on your own, but we know what to look for to help rid your home of them and keep them away for good.
Give Northwest Pest Control a call today and we will come out and eliminate the intruders and help prevent them in the future!