Rodents are one of the pests that Singapore’s pest control services regularly deal with. But why is it important to deal with infestations promptly? In this discussion, we tackle the various risks rodents pose to people and properties.

Living in a humid, highly urbanised nation makes us Singaporeans no strangers to pests like rodents. But we shouldn't tolerate their presence on our properties. Homes and businesses in Singapore need pest control plans against mice and rats due to their potential impact on your health and safety.

To better understand why we need to prevent infestations, let's look at some of the dangers rodents bring. 

Health Risks of Rodent Infestations

Rodents Carry Diseases 

Rats are infamous for carrying pathogens that cause leptospirosis, hantavirus, meningitis, typhus, and other diseases. They can spread these conditions through fur, saliva, faeces, and urine. Unfortunately, these illnesses can be deadly if untreated. But prevention is better than a cure, so it's better to ensure that rodents don't get an opportunity to contaminate food, objects, and other surfaces. 

Your Allergies Can Worsen

Besides transmitting diseases, rodent infestations can aggravate allergies and respiratory issues such as asthma. Their droppings and dander are potent sources of allergens. Even the smell of urine can easily trigger more extreme allergic reactions if you get exposed to them. 

Rats Are Hosts to Parasites

Even if the rodents themselves don't spread diseases, the ticks, fleas, and other parasites they host can. These can cause health issues for humans and pets, including tapeworms, plague, and Lyme disease. 

Rodents Also Pose Risks to Properties

Compromising Structural Integrity

Rats aren't only dangerous to our health. They can also put your building in danger by gnawing and biting on virtually anything, from your insulation to drywalls to wood beams and furniture. This is because they need to keep chewing to keep their teeth short. 

Endangering Your Electrical System

Since rats constantly chew on things, they can also damage wires and other electrical fixtures. This can lead to problems ranging from costly appliance repairs to power outages and electrical fires. 

Contribute to Food Wastage

Unless you want to fall ill, you can't use ingredients or consume food and drinks that the rats have already contaminated. This increases the waste your home or business produces, which can be costly in the long run. 

How Many Rodents is Too Many? 

It's easy to think that the one mouse you saw was an isolated incident. However, this often indicates that more rodents are scurrying about the premises. It can be especially concerning if there are pregnant females--one mother can give birth to over a dozen more rats. 

It would be best to inspect the whole property as soon as you spot a rate to see where the rest came from.

How to Make Your Property More Rodent-Proof

The best offence against rat infestations is a good defence. Here are some ways to keep rodents off your property: 

• Book regular appointments with one of Singapore's pest control services so they can inspect and treat early infestations. 
• Cover up any gaps and crevices in your floors, walls, plumbing, and roof that rats may squeeze through. 
• Store your food in sealed containers and cover your waste bins properly to prevent rats from smelling food and waste. 
• Remove any crumbs and mop up puddles to further deny rodents of food and water. 
• Declutter your rooms to give rats and mice fewer places to hide. 

Proactive Mice Control is Always A Must

Rat infestations can jeopardise many Singaporeans and their properties if we don't practise preventative pest control here in Singapore. We must take it upon ourselves to protect our homes and businesses by making them unappealing for the rodents to live in. 

But you don't have to struggle by yourself. When in doubt, don't be afraid to rely on a professional pest control service. They can give you more peace of mind by eliminating any current infestation and keeping rats at bay for years to come.