Dangers of Pests

We love our homes and we love to take good care of it. We are generally happy to share our homes with family and friends. But what about the things that are lurking in the spaces we can’t see? We may be sharing our homes with unwanted guests at any given time. No we aren’t talking about some creepy man in your attic, we are talking about pests. Many times our homes are also housing hard to find pests. These pests can really be any type of feral animal, wild animals, or insect. Unfortunately, these hidden pests can pose a threat to our home, health, and our family’s safety. That can come as a surprise to many people. Today we will talk about pests and their dangers.

Domestic Pests

Sometimes we get invaded by a pest that we generally wouldn’t consider a pest. Some of these would include feral cats, wild dogs, loose ferrets, domesticated rabbits and many others. This is actually more common than we think. This happens often if there is open access to the space under your home.

The most common of these animals to seek shelter would be cats. Cats love dark, safe, warmer places to make a bed to have their babies. Feral cats are a huge issue in the United States, there are between 60 and 160 million of them. Unfortunately, there are many health risks that go hand and hand with feral cats. They are the number one rabies carriers in the U.S. Feral cats spread rabies at more than twice the rate of stray dogs. 3/4ths of outdoor cats carry a parasite Toxoplasma gondi, this parasite has been linked to deafness, seizures, schizophrenia and other diseases in humans.

Many times cats will urinate where they live, so if they are staying under your home you can see how this would pose a major issue. Cat feces is dangerous. Their urine can cause respiratory problems due to the ammonia in their urine. It can also cause headaches. These are just some of the issues with allowing feral cats to stay under your home. Speak to your local shelter about humanely catching them.

Wild Animals And Rodents

There are also many wild animals that would absolutely love to live under your home. Some common wild animals that would love to live under your home include raccoons, skunks, possums, rats, mice, squirrels, and several others. They sound cute and cuddly but they can definitely pose a threat to your home. The most dangerous of these animals would be rodents.

Wild Rodents are dangerous in general. They are low in the animal world, they are scavengers and opportunists. They will eat anything, therefore they are carriers of parasites, bacteria, and many diseases. Mice and rats dribble urine as they scurry around your home, meaning they are constantly spreading diseases they could be carrying. Some of the diseases found in rodents include salmonella, E. coli, and Lyme Disease. Rats and mice damage insulation and wiring in walls and attics as they build their nests. Also, squirrels have been known to chew holes in soffits and siding to gain access to attics. Many people believe that rats, mice, and squirrels are at fault for many of the mysterious and sudden house fires. These are definitely animals that you do not want invading your home.

Insects

Did you know that termites and other insects cause over $5 billion in damage to homes in the United States every year? Ironically, most homeowner’s insurance policies won’t cover the cost of these damages. There are many different types of insects that could invade your home. Some of these include moths, ants, cockroaches, wasps, termites, spiders and many more. There are different months of the year to lookout for different pests. Insects can also spread bacteria and have bad effects on your health.
Common pests such as cockroaches and mosquitoes spread asthma, allergy, and food contamination illnesses. Other insects can easily slip through cracks in the walls and bring in their bacteria.

One of the most terrifying of these pests is the termite. Not only does it pose health risks for humans but it also poses a serious risk to the structural integrity of your home. Termites do sting and bite and some people are allergic to them. They can cause major allergic reactions and asthma attacks. However, they are not known to carry any diseases luckily. When termites move in they plan to stay, they reproduce quickly and eat your home from the inside out. Not only do they eat wood, they also destroy plaster, metal and other materials. They will eat your furniture. Termites are the silent destroyers of homes.

There is a great way to help prevent major damage from happening in your home, regular inspections you should be getting regular inspections on your crawl spaces to check for issues and very undesirable pests. Call Your Crawl Space Guys to check things out for you!