A Covid-19 Dilemma – Rodents

Like dominoes, many aspects of our lives are connected – and not always in ways we anticipate. Knock one down and the effects ripple across many facets of our society.

As our local communities and country continue to wrestle with the novel Coronavirus – both the disease itself and the precautionary measures – people are starting to notice a new, growing problem.

Rise of the Rodents

Pest control companies in largely urban areas like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, are getting significantly more calls about mice and rats. It could be just that people happen to notice the rodents faster since they’re home more than usual. But there’s also the factor of decreased trash production and collection, especially at restaurants and grocery stores where the furry fiends often forage for food.

When New Orleans went into lockdown, rats took the place of Mardi Gras revelers, filling the streets and forcing city pest services to amp up their usual coverage.

But that’s just one factor. Rodents are exploring deeper into empty offices and buildings. Some edifices already infested are seeing increased populations of, as well as bolder, mice and rats normally shooed off by people’s presence.

Any scrap or crumb of food left behind is turning into an attraction, and neglected file boxes provide plenty of nesting material. And the CDC says some of the rats are turning violent – not towards people, but against each other. Fighting over limited resources in a Rodent version of Thunderdome.

Bugging In

And rodents aren’t the only COVID-related pests plaguing people. No, it’s not the so-called Murder Hornets… The lockdown has spurred more sightings of cockroaches, ants and spiders. Some, like the mice sightings, are simply because people are around the house more often. But empty offices and shuttered restaurants attract rapidly reproducing creepy crawlies too.

The best offense against all of these issues is finding the entry points and sealing them up. But you may not be aware of all of these places. And closing one access point or leaving bait in one area may just mean the problem moves to another spot.

Only highly trained pest solution professionals can ensure that your home or office is free from bugs as well as pesky rodents. The good news is, we have your solution. Our Premier Rodent Program seals up ALL of the entry points, including often neglected vents, with our proprietary covers. We use bait stations to limit rats and mice from breaching your home’s perimeter. And we fully clean, sanitize and deodorize your attic once rodents are eliminated.

If you’d like more information on our rodent or insect programs, or to schedule your free home inspection, give us a call today!