Dogs can be a wonderful addition to any family, but they can also come with a few annoyances and cause some problems around your home.
For example, dogs need to go outside to poop, and this poop can potentially cause a lot of issues with the quality of your lawn, and the health of nearby plants.
But can dog poop attract unwanted rodents too? This is a question often asked by dog owners, especially if they start to see more rodents around their home after adding a dog to the family.
Let’s take a closer look at whether or not dog poop can lead to a rodent infestation in or around your home, and how you can handle it.
Rodents are Opportunistic
Both mice and rats are opportunistic animals which will eat a wide variety of foods… and non-foods. For example, as gross as it sounds, dog poop contains a lot of nutrients which rodents may find palatable.
This means an excess amount of dog poop in and around your property could lead to a rodent infestation. However, there is no solid evidence that shows rodents will be any more attracted to a particular area whether or not there was dog poop present.
In addition to dog poop, rodents may be attracted to other things such as piles of leaves, stacks of firewood, compost bins, and garbage bins. If you have any of these around your home, rodents may be finding those more attractive than the dog poop itself.
Noticing the Signs of Rodents
Luckily, it will be easy to see if you have rodents around your home since they can leave a number of different signs. Check the edges of your home, decking, or other wood structures for gnaw and claw marks.
As rodents look for a new nesting site, they will dig and chew under structures, foundations, and into your walls in order to find a safe and snug location. You may notice small holes in your wall down by the floor, or chew marks along the edges of cabinet or pantry doors.
In addition, you may see rodent droppings inside and outside of your home. These small dark bean-like messes can be seen all over, and have a very distinct odor when left to build up in large amounts.
Benefits of Cleaning Up Dog Poop
In addition to potentially reducing the amount of rodents around your home, cleaning up dog poop on a regular basis can keep your yard looking its best. It will also prevent the area from having a foul odor, and will keep your grass healthy and lush.
Dog poop can also carry a large amount of bacteria and parasites which, if left uncleaned, can soak into the ground and contaminate natural water tables, nearby ponds, lakes, and rivers.
Salmonella and other bacteria are extremely common in dog poop, which means cleaning it up and properly disposing of it is important for keeping your dog and your family healthy.
