Problems Rodents Bring To Your Omaha Property

When spending time around your home or on your property, seeing a mouse ora rat scurrying around can be rather shocking and even stressful. While all pests are unwelcome and can be unpleasant, rodents can be especially difficult because they are much bigger than an insect.

soft focus of mice through walls — Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

Whether you love or hate rodents, it’s important to understand that they are not just a nuisance pest. Despite the fact that they are one of the most common home-invading pests, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t a serious concern. Both mice and rats can cause property damage and pose many health risks.

What Do Mice And Rats Look Like?

While mice and rats are very similar in appearance and also in behavior, there are differences between these two distinct species. It can be difficult to tell them apart unless you know what to look for, so we’ve provided a brief overview of the differences.

First of all, mice are smaller than rats when both species are fully grown. They also have large ears in proportion to their bodies and slim tails. They are light brown or grey and have pointed snouts. Rats, on the other hand, have thicker, shorter tails and smaller ears in proportion to their bodies. They can be a grey-brown to black color, and they also have a blunter snout.

How Much Damage Can Rodents Do To Property?

One problem that mice and rats can cause is property damage, and this destruction can get worse over time as the infestations grow. Rodents have an instinct to constantly gnaw on things which leads them to chew on anything from wires to plumbing to the drywall.

While rats are bigger than mice when full-grown, mice can reproduce more quickly, so both of these species can do similar amounts and kinds of damage. They will basically chew on anything that isn’t too hard, so they can also damage furniture, leather, and plastic. Might be time to call the professionals at All Star Pest Control for help!

Why Are Rodents Considered Dangerous?

Dealing with property damage is bad enough, but the worst problem with mice and rats is that they can cause many health problems for people. They are unsanitary pests that can carry many pathogens. Here are the main health risks they pose:

They can spread about 35 different diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus, and Lassa fever.
They can carry parasites like fleas which can lead to the spread of serious illness like the plague.
Their fur, droppings, and urine can cause allergies and asthma attacks.
Over time, their feces can build-up and cause respiratory concerns.
While they don’t bite very often unless handled, they can bite which can increase the risk of getting an infection or disease.
What’s The Most Effective Way To Deal With Rodent Infestations?

Dealing with the constant destruction and the many health risks associated with rodents is no joke, so it’s essential to get rid of an infestation as soon as you notice it. The only completely effective and safe way to remove mice and rat infestations is through pest control help with experts like the team All Star Pest Control. With over 25 years of experience, we can handle any rodent infestation no matter how severe. You can get started by requesting your free inspection online or over the phone. Call us at (402) 243-6779.

How To Keep Crickets Out Of Your Omaha Home

Drive through Omaha at 2 am, and you know who has crickets in their house. The lights are on, and so is the chase. Ugh. They can be so frustrating! Wouldn’t it be great if they would stay outside? It’s lovely sitting out on the porch after supper with a glass of iced tea, listening to the crickets singing while the moon is rising. That’s perfection. Sadly it is not the end of the cricket serenade. The folks over at All Star Pest Control love a good concert. We will be right over!

The Common House Cricket

The common house cricket is a curious creature. The male is the only one that ‘sings.’ This is a mating call that is done by rubbing their front wings together. Crickets are also famous for being the inspiration for the Jiminy Cricket character in the movie Pinocchio. Here crickets are depicted as wise, dependable, and trustworthy advisors. Here are some other ways to identify a cricket (top hat and waistcoat notwithstanding):

Yellowish-brown in color with three stripes on their head

¾-⅞ inches long

A thread-like antenna that is often longer than their body

Six legs

Nymphs(youth) look the same but without wings.

If any of the above ways of identifying crickets are unfamiliar, perhaps you might recognize them when they are covered in chocolate. Crickets are eaten as a source of protein in many countries. Covering them in chocolate is just a perk!

Are Crickets Dangerous?

Most people would never consider crickets to be problematic at all. Usually, their worst offense is the incessant night chirping. While the jury is out regarding whether or not crickets can cause harm to humans, they will damage your property. They like to feast on your textiles. Their favorites are wool, cotton, silk, and some synthetics. Much like a moth or carpet beetle, crickets will leave holes in your upholstery or favorite wool coat. They will also damage your wallpaper and book bindings, as they are attracted to the starch in the glue.

It is beneficial to know what attracts crickets; after all, you need this information to avoid infestations, right? Well, have you ever given thought to where crickets are on the food chain? What critters will be attracted to your home to feast on the abundance of little chirpers? The answer would be snakes, lizards, mice, toads, large spiders, wasps, and ground beetles. Oh, joy and happy day!

What Attracts Crickets

Crickets are attracted to warm, moist air, like the kind you find in basements or other equally damp areas. They can survive indefinitely inside your house if they choose to, but usually, there is plenty of food outside in the summer months. The winter is when they tend to come indoors for warmth. You can do your part to discourage crickets from entering your home by:

Changing outdoor lighting to yellow bug lights

Mowing lawns frequently

Removing most debris that is near the house

Vacuuming carpets and around baseboards to suck up any eggs

Sealing up any cracks or holes in your outer walls or foundation

Having good ventilation in crawl spaces, attics, and basements

Using a dehumidifier

We cannot promise that following these steps will end your sleepless cricket-filled nights, but they will help to avoid a full-on infestation. The best advice we can give you is to call a pest control company like All Star Pest Control.

Call For Help

At the beginning of this blog, you were thinking, “They are just crickets… what harm can they do” Maybe you were just sleep-deprived. Maybe you emptied your nightstand drawer because you threw everything at the crickets in an attempt to shoo them away. Maybe now you know different. All Star Pest Control has your back! We will get those pesky, chirping crickets out of your house once and for all. You can drift off to sleep and stay that way.

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