The most common rodents that are in the pest category in the Birmingham area are rats and mice. They typically use their sharp incisors to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite
predators. Most rodents eat seeds or plants. They will also eat stored food and spread disease.
They
infest old buildings and crowded, unsanitary areas that exist in an
urban environment. However, they can also be a problem even where newer
homes and sanitary conditions exist.
There are six major problems caused by rats and mice:
1 They eat food and contaminate it with urine and
excrement.
2 They gnaw into materials such as paper, books, wood
or upholstery which they use as nest material. They also gnaw plastic,
cinder blocks, soft metals such as lead and aluminum, and wiring which
may cause a fire hazard.
3 Rats occasionally bite people and may kill small animals.
4 They, or the parasites they carry, (such as fleas, mites and
worms) spread many diseases.
5 Rats can damage ornamental plants by burrowing among the roots, or
feeding on new growth or twigs. They also eat some garden vegetables,
such as corn and squash.
6 Rats and mice are socially unacceptable. These rodents have been a
problem for centuries, chiefly because they have an incredible ability
to survive and are so difficult to eliminate. In addition, they are
extremely compatible with human behavior and needs.
Field mice have been primarily found in and around homes that are in newly developed areas. In our area this has been in shelby county neighborhoods such as Helena, Pelham and Alabaster. In Jefferson county, they’ve been found in more prominently in Hoover.
Call 426-0381 or Call/text 223-9460 for service in Homeood, Hoover, Vestavia, Pelham, Helena or Alabaster areas.
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