Will Rodents Contaminate Your Attic Insulation?

Two rats found in Moore County NC

Rodents cause issues for Moore County residents every winter. It’s a bad sign when you hear scuttling sounds coming from your walls or crawlspaces — it could mean that you have an infestation of rats or mice. Rodents often tunnel through our insulation to create warm nests or access other areas of our homes, but does this contaminate your insulation and necessitate replacement? Read on to learn about the consequences of rodents in your attic from the rodent control team at Aberdeen Exterminating.

Should I Replace Rodent-Infested Insulation?

A rodent presence inside your home or on your property can cause all sorts of problems. Rats and mice are notorious disease harborers, spreading pathogens not only through their bites, but also through their urine and feces. These are some notable conditions that rodents are responsible for:

  • Salmonellosis
  • Hantavirus
  • Tularemia
  • Rat bite fever
  • Parasites, and more

Because of the possibility of exposure to a long list of serious illnesses, it is highly recommended that you replace your insulation after it is infested by rodents. Not only does a rodent infestation in your insulation come with a risk of infection, it also compromises the strength of your insulation to regulate your home’s temperature and defend against other kinds of pests.

How to Keep Rodents Out of Insulation

Protecting your insulation from rats and mice starts with practicing regular rodent prevention. Add these preventative measures to your routines:

  1. Check around your house often for cracks and gaps in roofing, siding, plumbing fixtures, foundation, and elsewhere
  2. Seal all of your food in airtight containers and stow it away properly when you aren’t eating
  3. Keep your trash bins as far away from your home as you can, and take out your indoor trash often
  4. Team up with your local rodent exterminators to assess your home and property for vulnerabilities that could be attracting rats and mice

The Best Way to Prevent Rodents in Moore County

The best way to keep rodents off your property is to work with experts who understand their patterns and symptoms. Our technicians at Aberdeen Exterminating are experts in rodent control and are trained to use environmentally friendly tools and techniques to provide an equally safe and effective service.

We also offer a crawlspace moisture control service geared towards making your insulation less vulnerable to rodent infestations in the first place. Using moisture barriers, dehumidification, and crawlspace encapsulation, we can ensure that your insulation stays strong for years, as it should. To learn more about either of these services and receive a free quote, reach out today!

How Quickly Do Mice Reproduce?

Group of mice in Aberdeen NC Home - Aberdeen Exterminating

One of the most concerning things about a mice infestation is the fact that seeing even a couple or few rodents around can signal a serious problem. This is because rodents—mice in particular—have a very rapid rate of reproduction. The mouse life cycle is so quick that young mice can reach sexual maturity at just a month old. Unfortunately, this means that even one or two mice in your garage one week can grow exponentially in a manner of weeks. This is why it’s so imperative to learn how to prevent mice from breeding in your home in the first place. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know with the experts at Aberdeen Exterminating!

The Dangers of a Small Mouse Problem

If you see a single mouse running around your garage, you may be compelled to leave a trap or two out—or perhaps brush it off entirely. The truth is, it just takes one male and one female mouse to start a full-blown infestation. Here’s what to know:

  1. As mentioned before, young mice reach breeding age at 4–6 weeks of age.
  2. One mouse can give birth to 5 or 6 babies after just a three-week gestation period—and can do so up to 10 times a year.
  3. These female mice can mate immediately after giving birth, meaning mice can birth a second litter in as little as 25 days after the first.

What to Know About the Mouse Life Cycle

The life cycle of a mouse makes it easy to see why these rodents are such common pests in our region. Although the average mouse lifespan is only about 12 months outdoors, they can live for nearly 2 or 3 years in an indoor environment. Living indoors also enables mice to breed more rapidly, as they are unable to reproduce in the winter if outdoors. Inside the comfort of your home, rodents are safe from predators like owls, hawks, and cats. This is why a small rodent problem inside your Aberdeen home can quickly become a full-blown infestation.

How to Stop the Reproduction Rate of Mice

If you want to avoid mice breeding like rabbits inside your home, it’s important to learn how to prevent these pests in the first place. Even more important is learning how to recognize the early signs of rodents in your home—noises, droppings, and more. By stopping a small mouse problem, you can avoid the inevitable infestation. The rodent exterminators at Aberdeen Exterminating are happy to help by implementing the best mouse prevention tactics. Contact us today to learn more!