Pests. They’ve been around since the time of agricultural when those pesky mice and other rodents turned from nuisances to economical hindrances. Since then, they’ve infiltrated houses and apartment complexes, giving rise to a whole industry that specializes in doing away with them. It’s called pest control.
Types of pest control have varied through the centuries. Early on and still today, people use cats to keep rats and other rodents away from commercial goods. In New York City, they are often called bodega cats. Today, some pest control companies put bacteria that is of no harm to humans in local water supplies to reduce the amount of mosquitoes. In some countries, bounties are put on certain pests, which people can collect.
The danger of pests in today’s society may go understated. Rats, which can enter through .5 inch holes in structures, and mice, which can enter though .25 inch holes, are part of the rodent family that cause 25% of fires attributed to “unknown causes.” This is because rodents often chew on gas lines, electrical wiring, and matches.
Termites damage approximately 600,000 homes in the United States each year. One small termite colony of 60,000 can eat through a 2″ x 4″ in just five months, while a termite queen can live 15 to 25 years and lay an egg every 15 seconds. U.S. residents spend around $5 billion every year to control termites and repair termite damage.
Pest control services, which offer specific types of pest control, have proven useful to many in keeping homes and structures free of the damaging influences of pests. In many cases, homeowners want to prevent the situation before it starts, opting for rodent control methods and termite prevention. Here are a couple points to consider when you’re facing a pest situation.
Think population control. This is especially true of rats but also applies to termites. Like any animal, when food, shelter, and water are available, a rat population will flourish. The idea then is to first reduce any access points to the building, while limiting areas where food and water are available to rats as well. Trapping is a useful way of removing rats, especially when you do not own a cat.
Use treatments like sprays and liquids. A particular pest that responds to insecticides is the bed bug. Adult bed bugs are about .25 inches long and a reddish brown. After an inspection of the area, use the sprays around areas that may be infected like the baseboards of the bed or even dresser drawers.
Never hesitate to call a professional. A pest control company will often over different types of pest control to alleviate your pest problem. This can mean a treatment to be rid of termites, or vermin, or even bed bugs or ants. A pest control company will have a professional that is experienced at treating a pest problem.
