Terminix Reminds Homeowners that Rat Infestations Heat Up as Temperatures Drop

This Winter Rodent Season, Know the Dangers and Remove the Worry

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the winter months begin, it is typical for rodents such as rats and mice to head indoors for warmth like the rest of us. And according to Terminix (NYSE: TMX), a leading provider of pest management services, rodent issues are on the rise across the country. The company is reminding homeowners to consider that this year, in particular, with some restaurants and businesses shut down due to COVID-19, rodents may be more prone to finding indoor spaces in homes for warmth and food.

From cities to rural areas, rodents are incredibly adaptable and opportunistic food scavengers. Now more than ever – as homes have become the center of daily living – rats and mice are invading homes at an increased rate. In fact, Terminix has seen a 13 percent increase in rodent-related requests¹ over last year, likely due to the effects of the pandemic.

Attempting to control a rat or mouse infestation alone can be difficult. Effective and lasting rodent control requires an integrated approach, including preventive measures to keep rodents from getting into homes, reducing places they can live, trapping and monitoring, and increased sanitation measures to protect homes and families. Backed by the Terminix Promise™, Terminix is helping customers protect their homes for the holidays and beyond by identifying entry points and conditions that allow rodents to thrive.²

“Most homeowners are familiar with the common signs of rats and mice, including finding droppings, damaged boxes and papers, noises from within walls or in attics, and even chewed wiring,” said Dan Baldwin, director of technical services for Terminix. “Often, these are just a glimpse of more serious, costly, and potentially dangerous problems for your home. Rats and mice can carry and spread pathogens – bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that can cause disease – into and throughout a house, contaminating food, kitchen countertops, and any other area they contact. Chewed electrical wiring can lead to fires, and damaged data cables can be a major disruption to homeowners. For those reasons, homeowners have always trusted our trained and professional teammates for the proper and thorough removal of these rodents.”

For homeowners trying to determine if an infestation is possible in their home, Terminix offers these tips to start:

• A clean home is good; a secure home is better – Rodents typically enter a home through gaps or openings around a structure when seeking warmth, shelter and food. Rats and mice are able to enter homes through openings the size of a quarter or nickel. Good sanitation won’t get rid of rodents, but poor sanitation can attract them, and cracks in homes can guide them in.
• Check your roof – Rats and mice are skilled climbers and jumpers. They can scale all types of homes to find a point of entry, often near vents, wires, pipes, windows or doors.
• Act fast – Rats and mice are very successful breeders. A female rat can reproduce every three weeks and gives birth to about six to 10 young at one time, meaning colonies can grow very quickly. It doesn’t take long for rodents to do expensive damage to a home, from soiling and trampling insulation to holes in roofs and chewing electrical wires.

If you have any of the above signs of infestation, contact your local Terminix representative. Terminix can not only help once an infestation occurs, but the Terminix team can also provide solutions that help prevent damage this season. To schedule a FREE inspection and learn how Terminix is committed to the safety and well-being of employees, customers and communities during COVID-19, visit Terminix.com or call 1-800-Terminix.

About Terminix

Terminix Global Holdings (NYSE: TMX) is a leading provider of residential and commercial pest control. The company provides pest management services and protection against termites, mosquitoes, rodents and other pests. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., with more than 10,500 teammates and 2.8 million customers in 24 countries and territories, the company visits more than 50,000 homes and businesses every day. To learn more about Terminix, visit Terminix.com or LinkedIn.com/company/terminix.

^1Rodent-related requests for inspection and/or service at residential locations based on company information (January – November 2019 vs. January – November 2020).

^2The Terminix Promise means you can relax knowing we’ll keep rodents and wildlife out of your home. For as long as you keep your plan, we’ll do the following at no additional cost to you: Take care of the new rodent or wildlife infestation, repair damaged exclusion components or materials we installed, and seal any new entry points that were created. Coverage includes rats, mice, bats, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, groundhogs, armadillos, pigeons, starlings and sparrows. Limitations apply. See Plan for details.