CDC Offers Health and Safety Tips for Rodent Prevention | DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

Spring and Summer are great seasons for cookouts and get-togethers of all kinds with friends and family.  Unfortunately, they’re also seasons when rodent populations reproduce continuously.  Mice and other rodents are particularly effective carriers of a number of dangerous diseases, including hantavirus.  This year, take some precautionary steps to protect yourself and your friends and family, and to ensure that unwanted, furry guests don’t spoil your party.  The following rodent prevention tips are provided courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“Eliminate possible rodent food sources:

• Keep food in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids.
• Clean up spilled food right away and wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use.
• Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean.
• Always put pet food away after use and do not leave pet-food or water bowls out overnight.
• Keep bird feeders away from the house and utilize squirrel guards to limit access to the feeder by squirrels and other rodents.
• Use a thick plastic or metal garbage can with a tight lid.
• Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible (100 feet or more is best).
• Keep grains and animal feed in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. In the evening, uneaten animal feed should be returned to containers with lids.

If storing trash and food waste inside the home, do so in rodent-proof containers, and frequently clean the containers with soap and water. Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis, and pick up or eliminate clutter.

Eliminate possible nesting sites outside the home:

• Elevate hay, woodpiles, and garbage cans at least 1 foot off the ground.
• Move woodpiles far away from the house (100 feet or more is best).
• Get rid of old trucks, cars, and old tires that mice and rats could use as homes.
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery within 100 feet of the home well trimmed.”

Previously on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• The most (and least) effective kitchen sponge disinfection techniques
• Food safety tips for take-out and delivery dishes
• Health and safety tips for gardeners
• Egg safety tips for Easter

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