1. CHICAGO
2. LOS ANGELES (+1)
3. NEW YORK (-1)
4. WASHINGTON, DC
5. SAN FRANCISCO
6. PHILADELPHIA
7. BALTIMORE
8. DENVER
9. DETROIT (+1)
10. CLEVELAND-AKRON (-1)
11. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
12. SEATTLE
13. BOSTON
14. ATLANTA
15. INDIANAPOLIS
16. PITTSBURGH
17. HARTFORD
18. COLUMBUS, OH (+3)
19. MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE (+1)
20. HOUSTON (+10)
21. CHARLOTTE (+16)
22. DALLAS-FT. WORTH (+2)
23. RALEIGH-DURHAM (+8)
24. MILWAUKEE (-6)
25. GRAND RAPIDS (-2)
26. PORTLAND, OR (-4)
27. NORFOLK-PORTSMTH (+1)
28. SAN DIEGO (-9)
29. RICHMOND-PETERSBURG (+3)
30. NEW ORLEANS (+8)
31. CINCINNATI (-6)
32. GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG (+10)
33. SACRAMENTO (+7)
34. KANSAS CITY (-5)
35. NASHVILLE (-9)
36. TAMPA-ST. PETE (+5)
37. ORLANDO-DAYTONA BCH (+12)
38. BUFFALO (-5)
39. ST. LOUIS (-5)
40. PHOENIX (+5)
41. CHAMPAIGN, IL (-14)
42. ALBANY-TROY (-6)
43. FLINT (-8)
44. BURLINGTON-PLATTSBURGH (+4)
45. ALBUQUERQUE (+17)
46. ROCHESTER, NY (+5)
47. SOUTH BEND, IN (-4)
48. SYRACUSE (-9)
49. CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON (-2)
50. GREENSBORO, N.C. (+17)
Each fall, mice and other rodents invade an estimated 21 million homes in the United States. They typically enter homes between October and February looking for food, water and shelter from the cold.
“Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. “Rats are capable of squeezing into spaces through holes as small as a quarter, which makes it especially important to seal cracks from the outside.”
Rodents can cause health issues and also severe structural damage with their strong jaws and burrowing skills. They have oversized front teeth for gnawing, and teeth which are adapted for chewing a variety of items including electrical wires, water pipes and gas lines.
While some of us may think some rodents are cute, you still want to be very careful around them, as many may carry and spread diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rodents such as rats, mice, and chipmunks could carry Hantavirus, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), and monkeypox.
These, and many more diseases, can spread to humans through direct contact with the rodents or their feces, urine or saliva, or by being bitten by rodents. Additionally, rodents can carry ticks or fleas, which can also spread diseases.
A few common signs of a rodent infestation include:
⦁ Droppings: ⦁ Rodent droppings are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or pantries, under sinks, inside chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards and on top of wall beams.
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⦁ Gnaw marks: Mice are known to bite through walls, wood and wires. The damage to wiring within walls can increase the risk of a house fire.
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⦁ Nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. Be on the lookout for shredded paper products, cotton, packing materials and other fabrics, as house mice like to build ⦁ nests out of these materials.
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⦁ Rub marks: Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards as they follow a trail throughout the home between their nest and food.
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⦁ Strange noises: Scurrying in the walls or in the attic could mean a rodent family is present. Rodents are especially fond of attics as it’s an insulated area for nest building.
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The good news is homeowners and business owners can help prevent rodent infestation troubles by taking a proactive approach in eliminating entryways into their home and business. To help avoid the potential health and safety risks associated with rodents, Orkin recommends the following tips to help keep rodents out:
⦁ Store away food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.
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⦁ Declutter. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Take advantage of your extra time at home to clean and organize crowded spaces around the house and facility.
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⦁ Maintain your landscaping. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with homes can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home where they may find a way into the attic.
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⦁ Inspect both inside and outside your home. Keep an eye out for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better.
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⦁ Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks that are found around your home. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to ⦁ help keep mice out of your home.
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