Does dog food attract rodents? The short answer is yes. It can be a challenge to keep mice out off dog food. The long answer involves delving into the diet of mice and their eating habits. Rodents, like such as mice and rats, are omnivores, meaning they can eat animal meat as well as plant matter. They need carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which can come from grains, seeds, vegetables, and carrion. They are also opportunistic eaters, which means they will eat anything that’s available and are not picky. Leftover food, meat, insects, grass – there is nothing they would refuse.
Mice can also find food by foraging or hunting during their waking hours. Leftover dog food is definitely on the menu! Dog food is abundant in all the nutrients that mice need. It’s flavorful as well, which to its attractiveness.
Are mice dangerous?
If mice get access toy our food, they become agents of contamination. Scientists believe that mice contaminate ten times more food than they eat. They bring contamination through their fur, feces, and urine.
Rodents carry pathogens that are dangerous to human, pet, and livestock health. These pathogens cause diseases such as typhus, plague, and other bacterial infections that cause food poisoning. Proper sanitation measures that ensure adequate cleanliness will prevent any of these diseases from inflicting harm upon your family or pets. Mice and rats are critical disease vectors in veterinary and public health.
How can I keep mice out of dog food?
For dog food, make sure that you always maintain good hygiene and clean your dog’s bowl regularly. Don’t leave any exposed leftovers. This should be done both outdoors and indoors. Mice only need four to five grams of food each day. This means they are attracted to even the smallest crumbs you neglect to wipe off the table or sweep from the floor. And mice and rats are everywhere. They can even go ahead and live in unfinished houses while they are still under construction. Through the centuries, they have known that wherever humans are, there is food and shelter for them.
Your kitchen is a wonderland for mice. It is a cornucopia of enticing food of all kinds. If you already have a mouse or rat population, proper sanitation is not enough. You also need to seal off all entry points in your home. Mice can not only fit through the smallest crevices but with their teeth, they can even make their own crevices, even in solid concrete. They are just five to seven inches long, making them adaptable the smallest of openings, even as little as a centimetre. Openings sealed with rubber, wood, or plastic are useless. Consider the use of steel wool. Don’t leave anything unturned. Seal doors, screens, windows, vents, pipes, even building foundations if possible. Consider getting the services of mice and rat professional pest controllers.
Got a mice or rat infestation problem? You may need an integrated pest management solution. Extermination of populations is necessary if they are already entrenched in your home. Beyond using rat poison and traps, also consider professional help. Contact Picton Pest Control to get a complete assessment of your rat problem today!