If you live in an urban area, chances are that you’ve seen glimpses of the “Ratpocalypse”. Rodent populations are spiking, and that’s not good news for humans. Rats and mice spread many diseases that affect humans, and if they access stored food, they consume or contaminate it. This makes pest control a very important service for homeowners and property managers. In fact, rodent control uses multiple strategies to reduce the population of rats and mice in a given area.
The Ratpocalypse is here
The term was coined in 2017 by The New Republic to describe the explosion in rat and mouse populations in major urban centers in the U.S. Chicago has the dubious honor of being the top of the list of rat-infestations, followed by New York City and Washington D.C. Houston too has its share of these destructive animals. They’re not afraid of humans, and can be seen running around the streets in broad daylight. The image of the infamous “Pizza Rat” lugging a piece of pizza in the New York subway has gone viral online.
What attracts these unwanted rodents to urban centers? There are many answers, but the easy availability of food sources and hiding places are the most important. There are plenty of both in our cities, and that’s why the rats and mice congregate there. It’s not entirely an urban problem, though, and rodent infestations occur anywhere food is stored in large quantities. They’re just as destructive in rural settings as they are in urban ones.
Why rodent infestations are a problem
Damage from animals takes many different forms. First of all, they’re associated with the spread of diseases among humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that rats and mice spread around 35 infectious diseases worldwide. Then there’s the harm done to the food supply. The National Pest Management Association reports that as much as one-fifth of the world’s food supply is eaten or contaminated by mice and rats. And without pest control services, that figure would be closer to 50%.
Rodent infestations cause all kinds of damage to buildings and objects. Mice and rats have a tendency to gnaw through paper, wires, textiles and plastics, which pretty much covers most of our belongings. Rats can also physically threaten humans, and major cities have seen a rise in the number of rodent-related calls for help. In Chicago, animal nuisance calls about rats have increased by 61%. The number of rat-related nuisance calls have risen even more dramatically in New York, by 129% and in San Francisco by 174%.
How rodent removal services can help
Professional pest control services can help to control the problem. Rats and mice breed incredibly fast, and their populations expand rapidly. Theoretically a single breeding pair could produce a population of 482 million descendants in a period of just three years. Pest removal professionals approach the problem through a mix of strategies. While they may put out traps, poisoning is not the ideal solution. There are too many risks to other animals and birds, and even to children.
More lasting solutions focus on pest removal and making buildings rodent-proof, blocking access by installing grills and wire to prevent the rodents from getting into basements and crawl spaces. Securing trash containers and removing all open food sources can also help to deal with the problem.
The exploding population of rats and mice poses real problems and dangers, especially for people living in urban areas. Pest removal professionals can help to deal with the problem through a number of different strategies.