Rodents are known for many things, but their buck teeth may be the most infamous. Those sharp, ever-growing incisors lead them to gnaw relentlessly to keep them under control. Sometimes this behavior can come across as cute when they’re nibbling on nuts they hold in their cute little paws. But, in too many unfortunate cases, that same behavior can represent a serious threat to your home and safety.
Unlike humans, a rodent’s two front teeth grow continuously over the course of its entire life. This causes the rodent tremendous discomfort, so its only recourse is to gnaw them down continuously. Sometimes this behavior can be constructive, like beavers gnawing down trees to build their dams. Other times it can be harmless, like when they gnaw on tree bark in the forest. But, unfortunately, there are instances where their gnawing behavior can be devastating, like when they chew on live wires in your home.
According to Pestworld, as many as 20-25% of home fires with unknown causes are the result of rodents chewing on wires. This is most commonly caused by mice or rats, but other rodents, including squirrels have caused these disasters. There are many other reasons to get rid of rodents in your home, from sanitation to disease to general discomfort, but the wire gnawing behavior is perhaps the most urgent reason not to let sleeping rodents lie.
Peachtree Pest Control sees a tremendous amount of rodent activity all year, but the biggest spikes are in winter when rodents are looking for a safe haven to avoid the elements. Squirrels have a natural tendency to sneak into openings in people’s roofs. Rats can squeeze their bodies into such a narrow shape that they can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime.
Once inside, they will look for safe, comfortable spaces, often inside wall voids and ceilings, where they face minimal danger. They will build nests out of available materials (which are generally flammable) and will only sneak out at opportune moments to seek out food. Some pest control experts theorize that the reason rodents chew on wires is because they confuse them with plant stems. Regardless of the reason, it is a known fact that rodents can and will chew on live wires.
At Peachtree Pest Control we take the threat that rodents can pose to your home seriously. We use advanced SMART rodent control technology to monitor rodent behavior 24/7 and catch infestations where and when they start before they can become a true danger to your home. This technology is part of all of our annual home pest control plans so that our customers can rest with the knowledge that their home is protected from every danger rodents can cause.
Whether your home attracts squirrels, mice, rats or rodents of other shapes and sizes, you can rely on Peachtree to protect what matters most.
Call today for a free estimate for our state-of-the-art rodent control.