For immediate release: October 30, 2007 (07-185)

Contacts:
Dr. Ron Wohrle, Environmental Health Veterinarian 360-236-3369
Allison Cook, Communications Office 360-236-4022

Cold weather has rodents scurrying indoors
Rodent-proof your home to keep mice and rats out

OLYMPIA ¾ Mice and other rodents may seek shelter from cold winter weather, so they may be moving into your home soon. The key to keeping rodents from becoming your newest roommates is keeping them out and eliminating their food sources.

"In addition to being annoying and causing structural damage, rodents can spread disease through their urine and feces," said Dr. Ron Wohrle, environmental health veterinarian at the state Department of Health. "Fleas, ticks and mites, which can ride along on rodents, can also carry diseases that make people sick."

There are three important tips to prevent rodents from moving in and possibly spreading disease to you and your family.

First, seal up any openings or cracks large enough to squeeze a pencil through. Steel wool and caulk are good for blocking small holes. Sheet or lath metal, hardware cloth or concrete can cover larger holes. It’s also important to remove trash and debris from inside and outside the home to minimize places for rodents to live. Food scraps left on counters and pet food left outdoors will also attract rodents.

"Just imagine what that big bowl of dog food or left over dinner scraps on the kitchen counter looks like to a mouse," said Dr. Wohrle.

Next, get rid of the rodents that have already moved in. Snap traps baited with peanut butter can be placed in areas where rodent droppings or nests have been found. Flea and tick control should also be considered. If a rodent infestation is severe or can’t be handled by the resident, a pest control professional should be called.

Properly cleaning rodent-contaminated areas is the final tip to keep you and your family safe. Droppings, urine, nests and dead rodents should be sprayed with a disinfectant or a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water before cleaning up and being thrown away.

"Sweeping or vacuuming rodent-contaminated areas can stir-up dust that’s harmful to breathe," said Dr. Wohrle. "Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by deer mice, usually infects people when they inhale virus particles from rodent droppings that have been stirred into the air."

More information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web page, Rodent Control: Seal Up! Trap Up! Clean Up! (http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/index.htm).

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