Are Fort Mill pest exterminators needed at all?
Should I call for pest control near me for getting rid of bugs, mosquitoes, roaches, and mice?
These are what residents of Fort Mill, South Carolina are debating on. Pest control is sometimes a polarizing topic, with some favoring the use of chemical pesticides, some favoring the use of natural methods, and some would just rather call the professionals.
Pests are insects or animals that can adversely affect human activities. They can cause damage to property, crops, and health. It should be noted that people react differently to pests. Some are more sensitive to the presence of mice, mosquitoes, or cockroaches than others. Others are more tolerant and do not mind mice scurrying around the kitchen, or sharing a meal with roaches.
The thing with mice is that they are unforgiving. The more you tolerate their presence, the more they will cause damage. Mice chew on boxes, papers, cardboard, books, walls, furniture, gas pipes, and electric cables more than any other creature; this is because they have incisors that are constantly growing. Mice always look for something to chew on, not necessarily for nourishment, but to stop their incisors from growing. The result, of course, is devastating.
So you do not think you need an exterminator?
Let us explore the advantages and disadvantages of getting a pest control company for all the dirty work.
Let’s Talk About Mice
One of the most common household pests is the house mouse. It can be described as a small rodent with light brown to grayish colors, weighs only about ½ ounce, with tails that are longer than their bodies, and a rounded pair of black eyes. The lifespan of a house mouse is from 1 ½ years to 3 years.
The common house mouse invades not only residential areas, but also restaurants, offices, warehouses, hotels, and anywhere there are humans. They are very aware of the fact that where there are humans, there is food.
Mice are hardy creatures. They can survive without water for 20 days, getting hydration from the food they eat. Mice forage for food at night because they are nocturnal creatures. They sleep during the day.
Mice are highly social creatures. They live together in a nest and cannot stand to be alone. They need companionship always, and they feel lonely and depressed when left alone, and get depressed when they lose a loved one.
Mice are very intelligent and inquisitive. They like to explore their surroundings. They climb whatever they can because of their curiosity. Mice remember the paths they take easily and are wary if something is different, like a blocked path on their way home. They avoid confrontation and hide quickly when they sense danger. They crawl near walls only and are very uncomfortable being out in open spaces. This is why it is always wide to put mouse traps beside walls.
What makes their species so successful is that they reproduce quickly. A female mouse can start reproducing by the time she is 5 weeks old and will continue to do so every three weeks. A mouse can breed as early as until they are 2 years old.
Diseases Brought By Mice
These cute little creatures cannot harm, can’t they?
Mice may look all cute and cuddly, but that is not what they are. They are merciless, spreading dangerous diseases to unsuspecting humans. Diseases are just one of the nasty ways they repay their human hosts for living in their homes.
1. Plague
Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis. This disease exists because of rodents and their fleas. Rodents, which includes mice, carry the fleas that carry the bacteria. This disease was responsible for the deaths of more than half of the world’s population during the 1400s, and the population would not recover until 2 centuries later. Though modern medicine has helped check the spread of disease, there are still cases of the plague that are being reported in the United States.
2. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
HPS is a severe and at times deadly respiratory disease transmitted by mice. It can be spread by inhaling dust that is contaminated by mice droppings or urine or direct contact with mice droppings. It can also be transmitted through rodent bites. Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, dizziness. For late symptoms, there is coughing and shortness of breath. This disease could be fatal, so immediate care is of paramount importance.
3. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Humans become infected through contact with urine from infected mice. Transmission can also happen when a person drinks contaminated water or wades through floodwaters that have urine of infected mice and other animals. Bacteria can enter through breaks in the skin. Signs and symptoms of this disease include high fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, vomiting, rashes, and yellow skin and eyes.
4. Salmonellosis
This disease is caused by salmonella and can be transmitted by mice to humans by ingesting food or water that is contaminated by mice droppings. This illness lasts from 4 days to one week. In some cases, diarrhea can be so severe that immediate care from healthcare providers may be needed. The illness resolves by itself and no treatment is needed most of the time. Persons with Salmonellosis have diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The Center for Disease Control estimates that food is the source of 1 million cases for this disease.
5. Murine Typhus
Murine typhus is transmitted by fleas, but mice play a huge role here since they are the ones who carry the fleas inside houses. Rickettsia typhi is the bacteria that causes this. Symptoms for murine typhus include fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, stomach pain, and cough. This disease can be treated with antibiotics.
6. Rat-Bite Fever
Another mice-borne disease. Eating food and water that are contaminated by mice urine and droppings can transmit this disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, rash, and joint pain and swelling. These symptoms usually appear after 3 to 10 days after being contaminated.
How Mice Can Be Destructive?
Mice are dangerous AND destructive. Mice love to chew, and they leave gnaw marks to prove it. This makes them fire hazards to each time they get to electric cables and gas pipes.
If you are a business owner, in particular a restaurant or a food manufacturing business, mice are your worst nightmare. A single mouse can bring down your business with just their presence alone. And with social media, the news spread fast, which then accelerates your business’ downfall, if ever.
Food manufacturing businesses and restaurants have more gas pipes and electric cables than your average house, so there are more to chew on for these mice. This makes them a fire hazard. Of course, employees and customers can get ill because of these mice.
Can I Get Rid Of Mice Myself?
There are certainly plenty of ways you can get rid of mice through DIY methods. Here are a few tips on just how exterminators use to kill mice:
1. Seal off cracks, crevices, and openings around your home. Mice can squeeze into a hole the size of a nickel. These openings could be used as entry points by these mice. Look for small gaps on your kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, or anywhere you think there could be holes they can squeeze into your house. Repair any damages to your roofs tiles too.
2. Place your leftover food inside sealed containers to keep them away from raiding mice.
3. Place a lid on your trash cans and garbage bins. Dispose of your garbage properly and regularly.
4. Mice are also looking for water as much as they are looking for food. Make sure to fix leaky pipes and faucets.
5. When using mouse traps, make sure to put them near walls which is their natural path.
6. Cats are also a good deterrent for mice. They love hunting for mice.
7. Clean around cooking areas and grills. If there is any food residue and spilled liquids, clean them off.
If you already have mice infestation problems and are overwhelmed by them, a pest exterminator is what you need. For your peace of mind, call the best.
For the best pest control management in Fort Mill, call Go-Forth Home Services.
No More Mice Infestation With The Go-Forth Home Services
Go-Forth Home Services is the leading company in handling pest problems. We are next to none when it comes to exterminating all kinds of pests, including but not limited to mice, mosquitoes, roaches, bed bugs, poisonous spiders, weevils, rats, lizards, silverfish, and many others. Go-Forth Home Services is a family-owned corporation with excellent experience and licensed by the National Pest Management Association.
We have highly skilled and well trained licensed technicians using the latest and most advanced technology in the business. We employ only family-friendly and pet-friendly methods, so you are assured of your family’s safety.
You can check us on Facebook or Google to see what our customers have to say about us.