The Dangers Rodents Bring To San Diego County Properties

First, it is important to be clear about which mouse species we're talking about. The house mouse, known as mus musculus, is the king of pest rodents. One of the reasons the house mouse is so bad to have in your home is that it loves living in your home. Let's compare it to the other common rodent pests in San Diego.

Squirrels

If a squirrel mistakes your home for a tree and decides to live in your attic, that is where it is likely to stay. Squirrels don't explore every inch of your home. That means that whatever problems it brings in with it will be isolated to your attic space.

Norway Rats

When a Norway rat—or several Norway rats—come into your yard, these brown rats are going to prefer to live in ground burrows. While they can certainly infiltrate your home, they have a preference for being outside. They are slightly more troublesome than squirrels because these ground-dwelling rodents can explore every level of your home, from the basement to the attic. Their problems will not be isolated to your attic or basement.

Roof Rats

When roof rats get into your home, they're likely to do it by way of your roof. These black rats like to climb trees and, like squirrels, they're probably going to infiltrate your attic space. But they won't stay up there. Roof rats can explore every level of your home from top to bottom, spreading problems as they go. While worse than squirrels or Norway rats, there is one trait that makes them less troublesome than mice. Roof rats, which also go by the name ship rat, have a preference for locations that are near water. If your home is dry, it might deter roof rats from living with you.

House Mice

If a house mouse gets into your home, it is going to explore every level, and it won't prefer to be outside. While a house mouse can live outside, it would much rather find a cozy void within your home and chew an access point into a food storage area. If it does, it will be able to easily live in your home, even if there are no water sources. Mice can derive all the moisture they need from the foods they eat.

The Problems That Rodents Bring

All rodents present the same issues when they get into San Diego County homes. When you consider these problems, keep in mind how widespread these will be depends on which rodent you're dealing with. Also, keep in mind that you're only likely to have one type: mice, rats, or squirrels. They all mark their territories and don't prefer to live with each other.

• Urine. A rodent marks its territory by leaving drops of urine. It doesn't just go in one place. It leaves urine as it explores. This can cause an unpleasant aroma and can lead to contamination.
• Feces. A rodent will leave feces in the area it nests, and also in many of the areas it explores. This fecal matter can be a source of contamination for foods, dishes, silverware, and more.
• Holes. Rodents have incisor teeth that must be filed down. They file these teeth down by chewing on wood and other materials. They can damage your home and the belongings inside your home. They are a particular threat to stored objects because they prefer to explore secluded areas.
• Mold. The holes rodents chew in your exterior can allow rainwater in. This can create conditions for wood rot and mold. If mold develops, it can cause health issues.
• Wires. When rodents chew, they sometimes chew on wiring. This can spark a house fire, and a fire can lead to a catastrophic loss of property and a loss of life.
• Parasites. When a rodent comes into your home, it doesn't come along. No, we're not talking about the other rodents that come in with it. We're talking about fleas, ticks, and other parasites. A single mouse can have as many as a hundred seed ticks on its little body.