Forty percent of all mammal species are rodents—small- to medium-sized animals with incisor teeth that never stop growing. Their tooth size is held in check by their tendency to gnaw on anything available. To avoid the resulting property damage and other problems brought on by rodents, contact Select Pest Control in Hebron, KY. For more than 30 years, these premier exterminators have been offering expert rodent and animal control, including free inspections and estimates, throughout the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area. Here, they offer key facts about these pests to help you understand how serious a rodent infestation can be.

Rodents Breed Quickly

Rodents breed quickly and often. Adult female mice and rats enter estrus—or go into heat—every four to five days, with a gestation period of only three weeks. Mice litters typically result in five to six pups, while rats produce litters of six to 12. A single mouse or rat can produce seven to eight litters per year, and the young become sexually mature within four to five weeks.

Rodents Infest Buildings

Rodents are commensal, which means they prefer to live near humans and share our shelters and food. Rats, mice, and their parasites are everywhere humans are, no matter how clean or well-maintained the buildings are. This includes restaurants, food-processing factories, schools, hospitals, and homes. They enter through tiny gaps around pipes and utility access points, chew through siding or shingles, and travel in circulation vents and plumbing voids.

Rodents Cause Illness & Property Damage

Rats and mice cause gnawing damage to your home's structure, frames, roofs, furniture, and electrical systems. The latter can be a serious fire hazard; in fact, one-fourth of all fires of unknown origin could be a result of rodent damage. They also spread disease and bacteria through their feces and urine. They are known to spread Lyme disease, typhus, and hantavirus.

Select Pest Control, the premier exterminator and animal control specialist serving Cincinnati, can help you with rodent, carpenter ant, termite, and other infestations. Visit their website for contact info, or call (513) 352-0080 to discuss your pest control needs today.