Our Entomologist Victoria Fickle Answers Your Pest Questions

At Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions, we want to ensure that all of our Hawaii resident’s questions on pests are answered. Did you know that we have an onsite entomologist, Victoria who is readily available to answer any and all of your pest and bug questions or concerns? Victoria has a Master of Science degree in Entomology and has been studying insects, bugs, and other critters for over 10 years. Here is a recent question and answer you may find helpful:

 Question: I've heard that rats can spread diseases. Is it true they can make me and my family sick?

Victoria’s Answer: The ability for rats to spread diseases in Hawaii has been well documented. There are diseases the rodents on the mainland can carry that Hawaii rodents do not. For example: Hanta Virus. Many of these diseases we do not have because we do not have the carrier. In the case of Hanta Virus, Hawaii does not have the deer mouse or white-footed mouse. Other diseases, for example bubonic plague, we have the carrier (Norway rats), and we have the vector (the oriental rat flea), but we have not have the disease on the islands. Our last case of bubonic plague was almost 100 years ago, and it is likely no longer present in the islands, but there is potential that it could return by an infected rodent (or other carrier) coming into Hawaii. There are some cases where we do have the disease, such as Leptospirosis or Salmonella. Leptospirosis is avoidable by making sure you do not allow rodents to breed inside or around your home, and to not drink or swim in contaminated water (Hawaii Department of Health often marks contaminated or potentially contaminated water sources). Salmonella is similar, although it is found in many places and spread by other pests too, like roaches and flies. It is important to not consume contaminated food and to keep your home as pest free as possible to avoid contamination. The biggest rodent pest in Hawaii is probably the roof rat. We are also often impacted by the house mouse and the Norway rat (and to a lesser extent the Polynesian rat), but the roof rat is by far the most common invader into homes and commercial facilities. They key to long term rodent control is exclusion work (to prevent rodents from coming in) and sanitation (to keep rats from having places to hide and excess food and water), along with a good rodent management program.

For more information on the rodent control services offered by Sandwich Isle for your home or business, visit our commercial rodent control or residential rodent control pages. If you have any more questions or concerns on rodents or other pests in Hawaii, contact us today for more information.