--- title: Rodents Running Rampant description: Quarantine has affected more than just humans- rodents in Massachusetts have been forced to adapt, often moving closer to homes in search of food. image: https://blog.burgesspest.com/hubfs/RODENT%20ON%20COUNTERTOP.jpeg --- [![Burgess-and-Capeway-logo.png](https://blog.burgesspest.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Burgress_Oct2018/Images/Blog/Burgess-and-Capeway-logo.png?width=468&name=Burgess-and-Capeway-logo.png "Burgess-and-Capeway-logo.png")](https://www.burgesspest.com) 508-587-4309  |    [Customer Login ](http://login.burgesspest.com/) - - - - - Residential - [Pad Protection Plans](https://www.burgesspest.com/pad-protection-plans/) - [Ant Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-ant-control/) - [Tick & Mosquito Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-tick-mosquito-control/) - [Rodent Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-rodent-control/) - [Bee Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-bee-control/) - [Insulation Cleanouts](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-insulation-cleanouts/) - [TAP® Insulation](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-tap-insulation-installer/) - [Wildlife Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-wildlife-control/) - [Schedule an Inspection](https://www.burgesspest.com/schedule-an-inspection/) - Commercial - [Partnering with Burgess](https://www.burgesspest.com/partnering-with-burgess/) - [3-Part Plan](https://www.burgesspest.com/inspect-detect-correct/) - [A Higher Standard](https://www.burgesspest.com/higher-standard/) - [Services](https://www.burgesspest.com/services/) - [Disinfectant Services](https://www.burgesspest.com/disinfectant-services/) - [Sanitation Services](https://www.burgesspest.com/trash-chute-elevator-pit-cleaning/) - [Pest Management for Food Services](https://www.burgesspest.com/food-services-pest-management/) - [Pest Management for Warehousing & Distribution](https://www.burgesspest.com/warehouse-distribution-pest-management/) - [Our Guarantee](https://www.burgesspest.com/our-guarantee/) - [Pest Management for Healthcare](https://www.burgesspest.com/healthcare-pest-management/) - Termites - [Termite Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-termite-control/) - [The Sentricon System](https://www.burgesspest.com/the-sentricon-system/) - [Schedule an Inspection](https://www.burgesspest.com/schedule-a-termite-inspection/) - Bed Bugs - [Identifying Bed Bugs](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-bed-bug-control/) - [Heat Treatments](https://www.burgesspest.com/bed-bug-heat-treatments-in-massachusetts/) - [Let’s Talk!](https://www.burgesspest.com/lets-talk-bugs/) - Resources - [Our Blog](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog) - [Video Library](https://www.burgesspest.com/video-library/) - [SDS](https://www.burgesspest.com/sds/) - [Consumer Bulletins](https://www.burgesspest.com/consumer-bulletins/) - Company - [Our Story](https://www.burgesspest.com/our-story/) - [Careers at Burgess](https://www.burgesspest.com/careers-at-burgess/) - [Service Areas](https://www.burgesspest.com/service-areas/) - [Customer Reviews](https://www.burgesspest.com/customer-reviews/) # Our Blog # Rodents Running Rampant By [Admin](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/author/admin)| Sep 30, 2020 11:30:00 AM |[0 Comments](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/rodents-running-rampant#comments-listing) # Thanks to COVID-19, rodents in Massachusetts are busier than ever this year. [Rodents](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-rodent-control/)can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. They [carry disease](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/rodents-human-health-hazards), cause structural damage, contaminate food, and compromise [air quality](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-insulation-cleanouts/). They are just plain unwelcome house guests, and they multiply quickly, making it difficult to eliminate them once they’ve gotten comfy. This year, rodent activity has escalated—and you can thank [COVID-19](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/disinfectant-services-pad-protect-disinfect) for the majority of it. ![Rodents Running Rampant](https://blog.burgesspest.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RODENT%20ON%20COUNTERTOP.jpeg?width=300&name=RODENT%20ON%20COUNTERTOP.jpeg) [Rats](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/rats-a-growing-problem-on-cape-cod) in particular have been expanding their territories over the last several months; with businesses closed, especially restaurants, rats have suffered a significant decline in food sources. Dumpsters that were once full of trash and food opportunities have sat empty, forcing rats to forage in new, more open, locations, sometimes during odd times of day. People tend to assume that rats are an “urban problem”. That may be partially true, but food shortages have made some populations bold enough to venture into more suburban areas, where trash cans, bird feeders, and pet food abound. Colonies that already existed in suburbia moved closer to residences as small grocers and convenience stores slowed or stopped operations. While rats are less likely to nest in your home than [mice](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/dispelling-some-myths-about-mice), both can pose significant threats to people, pets, and property. How can you reduce your risk? **Inspect for activity.** Check areas with food, garbage, or storage for signs of rodent presence, including chewing, droppings, burrows, or rub marks. **Seal access points.** Rodents don’t need much space to access a building. Gaps and holes around doors and windows, cracks and crevices in your foundation, openings around utility lines and pipes, faulty roofing or damaged bulkheads all provide plenty of opportunity for rodents to enter. **Starve ‘em out.** Make food and water sources inaccessible to rodents; store pantry items and pet food in sealed containers, make sure trash bins close completely, keep pet dishes off the floor as often as possible, sweep/vacuum floors regularly, and wipe down countertops often. If they can’t find what they’re looking for, they have no choice but to move on. **Call the pros.** Rodent infestations are notoriously difficult to self-treat, especially during times of duress. [Burgess Pest Management’s experts](https://www.burgesspest.com/schedule-an-inspection/) are well-versed in safe rodent elimination, and our **Home Sealer and Sanitizer** service removes the evidence and prevents reintroduction. Call today for a [free estimate](https://www.burgesspest.com/schedule-an-inspection/) – in the meantime, download a free copy of our [fall pest guidebook](https://info.burgesspest.com/2020-fall-massachusetts-pest-guide) for more information, including helpful tips for DIY prevention: [![Click Here to Download Your Copy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/460754/24b386fa-9681-4388-9613-456589f9b85b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/460754/24b386fa-9681-4388-9613-456589f9b85b) [![Let's talk!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/460754/ec16ddc9-bc47-4101-bc51-1839c5088283.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/460754/ec16ddc9-bc47-4101-bc51-1839c5088283) Topics: [Cape Cod Pest Control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/cape-cod-pest-control), [rodents](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/rodents), [fall pest control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/fall-pest-control), [rodent control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/rodent-control), [massachusetts rodent control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/massachusetts-rodent-control), [south shore pest control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/south-shore-pest-control), [Boston pest control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/boston-pest-control), [mouse control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/mouse-control), [fall pest control tips](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/fall-pest-control-tips), [rat control](https://blog.burgesspest.com/blog/topic/rat-control)  Thanks for visiting today! ### Have a Pest Problem?   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/460754/cb31fb6d-9c1e-4916-b4b7-a37bbc4590a1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/460754/cb31fb6d-9c1e-4916-b4b7-a37bbc4590a1) ### Get the latest in your inbox ### Recent Posts ##### Residential Pest Control - [Pad Protection Plans](https://www.burgesspest.com/pad-protection-plans/) - [Ant Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-ant-control/) - [Tick & Mosquito Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-tick-mosquito-control/) - [Rodent Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-rodent-control/) - [Bee Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-bee-control/) - [Insulation Cleanouts](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-insulation-cleanouts/) - [TAP® Insulation](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-tap-insulation-installer/) - [Massachusetts Wildlife Control](https://www.burgesspest.com/massachusetts-wildlife-control/) - [Schedule an Inspection](https://www.burgesspest.com/schedule-an-inspection/) ##### COMPANY - [Our Story](https://www.burgesspest.com/our-story/) - [Careers at Burgess](https://www.burgesspest.com/careers-at-burgess/) - [Service Areas](https://www.burgesspest.com/service-areas/) - [Customer Reviews](https://www.burgesspest.com/customer-reviews/) ##### Contact Us [508-587-4309](tel:508-587-4309) [email](mailto:info@burgesspest.com) - - - - ### SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG: © 2022 Burgess Pest Management. 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