Is It Ok To Ignore Mice Or Rats In Your House?

It’s been widely accepted that California has a massive and tangible rodent problem. They might not be the giant radioactive rats from your post-apocalyptic nightmares, but they are just as scary for home and business owners looking to maintain a pest-free property. The rodents we’re talking about are the uncontrolled populations of regular-sized rats and mice that make Los Angeles the second rattiest city in the country. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, wild rodents are thriving in residential zones like never before. Some might even say we’re being overrun. 

The problem is, spotting a solo creature in our home doesn’t always set off alarm bells. If you can help it, you probably don’t want to go through the trouble of laying down traps or finding a professional. After all, how much damage can a furball no bigger than a loaf of bread do? The answer: a lot.

Rapid Reproduction Of Rodents

First, let’s paint a picture of a growing infestation. Take rats, for example. Unlike humans, rats have a survival strategy that relies heavily on quantity. In other words, instead of concentrating their efforts on just a few offspring, they produce a lot with the hope that some survive long enough to have litters of their own. There’s no doubt it works quite well for them, as census reports reveal that they are more commonly sighted than even roaches.

On top of having a large litter, young rats are sexually mature at just 4–5 weeks. So, adult mothers are producing batches of 5 to 12 pups, and their offspring are too. According to pest experts, a pair can become over 1,000 in as little as one year. To make matters worse, rats certainly aren’t the only rodents with prowess in reproduction. Pregnant mice can become pregnant again immediately after birth. Effectively, they produce offspring every 25 days, which begin to mate themselves around 6–8 weeks old.

The other thing to remember is that if you see one, they are most certainly accompanied by others. The bottom line? Ignoring a sign of their presence in your home can lead to an exponentially growing army of furiously breeding pests.

Property Damage From Mice And Rats

So, we’ve established that a tiny problem can quickly get out of hand. What does that mean; are there repercussions to housing a rampant population? The short and easy answer is yes, absolutely, full stop. Rats and mice are unrelenting scavengers who won’t hesitate to take your home for themselves. They can scavenge whatever might make good material for their nests and chew through anything they can get their jaw around. 

Rats and mice are responsible for an estimated 20% of undetermined house and structure fires in the United States yearly. Nothing is safe, from desk chairs and table legs to electrical wires and insulation. Rodents are also highly competent at causing significant structural damage. As you can imagine, replacing ruined items and repairing extensive damage can be expensive.

Rodent Diseases, Sanitation, And Public Health

Though an infestation can be costly, your primary concern should be safety. Many wrongly believe bites are rare or come solely from negligence. In reality, emergency rooms treat more than 9,000 patients for rodent bites annually. Simple exposure to their urine and dander can elicit allergy symptoms or trigger a full-blown asthma attack.

A mouse rummaging through your pantry may cause a fast scare, but many people are unaware of how dangerous they can be. According to the CDC, the leading source of rodent-to-human disease transmission is due to home infestations. They have been specifically designated a public health issue as they can contaminate food and carry diseases. 

Unfortunately, rodent-borne illnesses are far from harmless. For example, the deer mouse commonly found in Los Angeles and the surrounding counties can carry a hantavirus strain called Sin Nombre. Though the disease starts with seemingly harmless flu-like symptoms, it can progress to a state of respiratory failure.

Expert Pest Control In Los Angeles, CA

You might feel tempted to let a rodent or two off the hook. However, spotting one little pest usually means more are lurking in the shadows, and the longer you ignore an infestation, the more likely you are to have to deal with consequences. At 101 Gopher & Pest Control, we appreciate the importance of getting a rodent infestation under control swiftly and securely. We’re more than happy to lend you our expertise and provide comprehensive pest control services that ensure one doesn’t turn into a hoard. Contact us today for an estimate or for more information on our pest and nuisance wildlife services.