When the sun goes down in Dallas, rodents often make their way into homes in search of food and shelter. Unfortunately, rodent infestations can go unnoticed for some time, allowing them to breed, spread, and cause serious risks if they are allowed to fester for too long. Here are three ways rodents can harm your home and your family if they make their way into your residence.

The Risk of Disease

Rodents are known carriers of many infectious diseases that can easily be transmitted through close contact with them, their waste, or any food they may have contaminated. The buildup of their urine and droppings can also permeate throughout your house, causing unpleasant and toxic smells. As for which diseases they carry, there is a whole laundry list of possibilities. Among the most common are:

• Leptospirosis

• Salmonella

• Rat-bite fever

• Bubonic plague

Since you never know what diseases, if any, rodents are carrying, it’s best to keep your distance and contact professional rodent removal services to take care of the problem right away.

The Risk of Damage

When it comes to damage to your home, rodents are different from other common critter intruders. Rodents possess powerful teeth that never stop growing so they must gnaw on anything that they find appealing, which is often food, wires, furniture, and walls. Rodents also have coats slick with secreted oil that will leave greasy marks on anything they bump into, including walls and floorboards. Their waste can also create lasting damage by soiling attic insulation and cardboard and causing rot in wood and drywall.

The Risk of Fire

While gnawing from rats can cause damage to the structure of a house and the objects within, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the fire risks caused by gnawed electrical wires. This may not sound all that common at first, however, it has been estimated that rodents cause up to 20% of undetermined fires in the United States every year. Therefore, it’s extremely important that you get a professional to survey any damage from a rodent infestation in order to prevent any further threats to your home.

Avoid Risks With Expert Dallas Rodent Removal

Here at Critter Control® of Dallas, our experienced wildlife removal experts are equipped to handle any rodent infestation using eco-friendly and humane methods of removal. As soon as you notice the presence of critters in your home, take action right away and contact us to help you take care of the problem before it starts to grow. For a free estimate, call us today at 817-222-1101.