By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Central Illinois, St. Louis and Chicago all ranked among the “rattiest” metro areas in the nation, according to a new report.
A new report from pest control company Orkin ranked Central Illinois among the metro areas in the country with most rodent problems.
The report measured the regions by call volume and new rodent pest treatments performed from Sept. 15, 2018, to Sept. 15, 2019. It included both residential and business customers.
The central Illinois region, consisting of areas around Champaign, Springfield and Decatur, ranked 36th on the national list. The region moved up eight spots compared to last year’s report. For the fifth consecutive year, Chicago took the top spot in the nation for rodent problems. St. Louis moved up five spots from last year, coming in at 31st this year.
Chelle Hartzer, a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager for Orkin, said the two main rodents in Illinois are the house mouse and the Norway rat.
A house mouse will nest in any area they can find, especially if it is close to food. The Norway rat burrows underground and can get in through foundations and openings as small as an inch, according to Orkin.
Central Illinois’ ranking isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Hartzer said the ruralness of central Illinois makes for a natural habitat for rodents. She pointed to fields and agriculture of central Illinois. Hartzer said when farm fields are stirred up and harvested, it drives the rodents out of the fields in search of new places to live. She said the rodents seek shelter in warm areas with readily-available food and water.
“Unfortunately, residential properties offer the ideal habitat for rodents because of access to food and water sources, potential entry points and hiding places,” Hartzer said.
Sealing up any possible entry point for rodents that on the outside of a house or building will go a long way in preventing an infestation, Hartzer said.
“A rat can squeeze through an opening as small as a quarter, while a mouse can wedge its way into a hole smaller than a dime.”
About 25 percent of unexplained fires result from rodent chewing, according to Orkin estimates.
“Beyond structural damage, there are multiple health issues associated with rodents including food poisoning, rat-bite fever, hantavirus and even the bubonic plague. Rodents can easily spread diseases in a home or commercial site in a short period of time,” Hartzer said.
Orkin recommended the following tips for homeowners to help prevent rat and mouse issues:
- Inspect both inside and outside the home for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The more quickly rodents are detected, the better.
- Look for possible entry points outside the home and seal cracks and holes if any are found. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help block rodents from sneaking inside.
- Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen to avoid leaving food residue or sugary substances that can attract rodents. Store food properly by keeping it sealed tightly in rodent-proof containers like plastic bins or metal canisters. Otherwise, rodents may smell food and break into weaker containers.
- Cut back trees and bushes to at least three feet away from homes to avoid giving rodents a “jumping off” point to access the gutters, roof or other hidden openings.
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