Rodent pests are never a welcome sight especially if spotted indoors. Here's 10 facts about these pests. Some might even surprise you.

1. Avid disease spreaders. We all know pests can carry germs as they scurry around, but did you know rodents can spread up to 35 diseases to humans? As they walk through their own feces and cover a lot of territory throughout their existence they can easily spread some very nasty bacteria. Some diseases can be directly transmitted through their feces and others by direct contact such as bites. Other diseases can be spread through indirect contact such as being bitten by an insect that has been on the rodent. Either way there are some serious germs connected to rodent infestations.
2. Rodents are rapid breeders. These small but active animals can reproduce quickly leading to a serious infestation in no time. Female mice, for instance, can birth up to 15 litters in a year! These offspring can then reproduce at just six weeks old. These numbers are astounding. The longer a rodent infestation goes untreated the worse it gets.
3. Rodents are smart. It makes sense to think that rodents are just “unintelligent pests” but did you know rats are among some of the smartest animals on the planet? They join the ranks of animals such as chimpanzees, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, dogs, pigs, pigeons and octopuses on the intelligence scale. 
4. Rodents are crafty. Rodents can find their way into the smallest of spaces. They can easily squeeze through cracks and crevices as small as 13mm in diameter. Their flexible joints allow them to flatten out their bodies as they crouch down to crawl. If they can’t get through an entry way by squeezing in they will often chew a hole in any material that’s blocking their passage. 
5. Rodents' teeth keep growing. One of the defining characteristics of a rodent is a set of teeth that continuously grow over their lifetime. All rodents have a pair of upper and a pair of lower teeth called incisors. Unlike human teeth, these incisors don't have roots, and they never stop growing! To keep these teeth from growing excessively they grind their teeth against each other, and also grind them down as they gnaw hard materials like wood.
6. Some rodents can swim. Don’t think that using water as a deterrent for these pests is an effective tool, because rats can swim. They actually can even tread water and hold their breath. 
7. Rodents don’t need much to thrive. Rodents can survive with minimal substance. They will eat just about anything they find and don’t need a varied diet. They also don’t require much water. They get much of any needed hydration through foods they eat.
8. Some rodents are cannibals. It’s not uncommon for rats and mice to eat others. They will literally eat just about anything, and this includes their own, especially when food is scarce. They will even eat their young, dead or alive.
9. Rodents have a very short lifespan. Although their lifespans vary depending on species and health, most rodents have an extremely short life. Rats and mice typically only live 1-2 years in the wild. Though short-lived they are still very destructive and an infestation should be addressed immediately.
10. Rodents cause major damage. These small pests cause major problems for homes and businesses. Since they can reproduce quickly, eat through housing material and spread disease, if you see any rodents in or around your property you should consider eliminating them.

Contact Spence’s Pest Control for all your pest concerns. Our experienced technicians can get your rodent and other pest problems resolved and give you the peace of mind knowing your home or business is protected from an infestation.