Can Mice Carry Lyme Disease?
Are White Footed Mice & Lyme Disease Connected?
Blacklegged tick bites are the main cause of Lyme disease, a serious bacterial infection. To pass the illness to people, a tick must first pick up the bacteria from infected wildlife and hitch a ride into a residential area. This is where the relationship between blacklegged ticks, white footed mice, and Lyme disease begins.
The Perfect Host
White footed mice make an effective vector for Lyme disease and a prime host for blacklegged ticks for several reasons. The first is that they can ferry infected parasites into houses. Ticks can't travel far on their own, so they need a host to move long distances. White footed mice are highly mobile and often move between outdoor food sources and the indoor shelter provided by homes.
However, white footed mice provide more than transportation. These rodents also carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so they can infect parasites that feed on them. These ticks may, in turn, pass the condition to people and pets.
Problems with White Footed Mice & Lyme Disease
While these rodents damage property and pose other health risks, one of the most serious concerns with white footed mice is Lyme disease. Infected people may have symptoms like joint pain, fever, and fatigue. If allowed to develop, the condition can spread to vital organs.
People can't catch Lyme disease from white footed mouse bites or feces, but the pests' tendency to carry ticks is a problem. Once indoors, the parasites can drop from mice at any time to move to a new host.
Prevention & Removal
To keep mice from coming indoors, patch any holes or cracks in the house. Homeowners who live near woods or fields should be cautious since these are common habitats for white footed mice and blacklegged ticks.
If prevention fails, a rodent infestation can be hard to remove without help. Residents concerned about white footed mice and Lyme disease can contact Critter Control for reliable pest exclusion and removal.
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Best Bat Removal
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
Because
bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
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Bat Removal
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!
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