RODENTS
Squirrels and rats and skunks, oh my! Rodents in the attic, trash cans and under the house can gnaw on your nerves and your property. Many rodents’ front teeth grow continually, so they gnaw incessantly on surfaces to wear their teeth down.

PROPERTY DAMAGE & HOUSE FIRES
Once inside a home or business, rodents go to work on the electrical wiring, PVC plumbing pipes, heating and air conditioning ducts and anything else they can sink their teeth into. Remember, you don’t have to live in the country to be bothered by wildlife – we deal with wildlife problems even in South Carolina’s largest cities.

RAT BITES
Not only do rodents chew, they bite! If they feel threatened, rats, chipmunks and other rodents can inflict painful bites and pass infections, strep bacteria and even rabies.

PESTS & VECTORS
Vectors such as fleas, mites and ticks are part of the rodent habitat. These feasting insects transmit diseases by feeding on infected rodents and then biting humans. In turn, rodents transmit diseases carried by the insects by biting humans or other animals.

CONTAMINATION
Airborne Transmission: Humans and other mammals can become contaminated with a variety of diseases and viruses through exposure to infected rodents’ droppings, urine and saliva. Rodent droppings should be handled with care, especially after they’ve dried, when they can break apart and release airborne particles that can enter nasal passages and cause infection.

Salmonella: Salmonella bacteria are transmitted to mammals when they eat foods contaminated with an infected rodent’s excrement.

Hantavirus: People can become infected with the Hantavirus by inhaling contaminated dust, touching one’s mouth or nose after handling contaminated materials or by living in a rodent-infested setting.

BIRDS

VERMIN
Besides the damage they can do to your home, when they feel threatened opossums and raccoons can inflict painful bites and pass infections, strep bacteria and even rabies to family members or pets.

SNAKES
Snakes are becoming an increasing problem for people in the Southeast, as our homes get closer and closer to snakes’ natural sources of food, water and shelter. Most snakes are not poisonous or venomous and, as predators of rodents and insects, they actually perform a good service. Most people, however, would rather not have them hanging around the house. Snakes are cold-blooded and regulate their body temperature by moving to a suitable environment. That’s why you’ll rarely see them out in the open in extreme summer heat for more than 10-20 minutes. They spend most of their time resting in cool, damp, dark, hidden areas.

BATS
Bats aren’t reserved for Halloween and scary movies; they can also take up residence in your home. Although beneficial to humans because they eat mosquitoes and other flying insects, as potential rabies carriers, bats can be dangerous and in homes they can be quite destructive. Once they get inside a building, large colonies can form and can live there for years unless removed. In addition to the noise they make scratching, crawling and squeaking, bat droppings – known as guano – are a sure sign they’ve found a place to roost. Guano has a very distinct odor that can often be smelled from a distance. Worse yet, it can cause respiratory diseases, harbor insects and other unwanted pests and ruin insulation.