Salt Lake City ranks in top 10 in US for greatest risk of disease-carrying pests

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Salt Lake City residents, beware of rodents in your home -- they could be carrying infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

According to a new study from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), Utah's capital city ranks in the top ten in the nation " for increased pest pressure from vector pests for the remainder of winter and into spring."

Vector pests are creatures that can transmit diseases to humans and include rodents, mosquitos, ticks, and cockroaches.

Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., chief entomologist for the NPMA explains the increased risk:

This winter, if you can call it winter, has been so erratic that we’re seeing increases in pest pressure from populations otherwise dormant this time of year. Not only did early season snowfall and cold temperatures across the country drive rodents and cockroaches indoors early in search of food and shelter, but record-high temperatures nationwide in December through January allowed pest populations to sustain activity well past their normal seasonal decline.

Salt Lake City residents should beware of rodents until spring. The NPMA explains why Salt Lake City is on the list:

After a mild start to winter, predicted freezing temperatures for the remainder of the season may lead to increased rodent activity in or around structures.

To help prevent rodents from entering your home this winter, the NPMA suggests the following 10 tips:

1. Insert door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
2. Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
3. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities enter.
4. Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
5. Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
6. Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
7. Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains that provide the perfect breeding site for pests.
8. Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages before bringing them into the home.
9. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and keep shrubbery well-trimmed.
10. If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest control professional to inspect and treat the problem.

The NPMA says that in January 2020 alone, Twitter engagement surrounding pests as a topic nearly hit 21 million. "Rats were the number one health and home pest concern amongst Americans, closely followed by mosquitoes, ticks and mice during that time," the NPMA stated. "Engagement around these top four vector pests combined accounted for a staggering 81 percent of the total engagement on the topic of pests as a health and home threat, revealing the public’s increasing concern."

TOP 10 U.S. CITIES AT RISK FOR WINTER PESTS

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(Cities are listed alphabetically. No numerical list provided)

• Atlanta: After an exceedingly warm and wet fall and start to winter, cold temperatures predicted for February may cause rodents to seek shelter indoors.
• Charlotte: With warm and rainy conditions throughout most of fall and winter, cockroach and tick activity could increase on unseasonably warm days.
• Detroit: After experiencing its fourth-coldest November on record and a deluge of snow, cold temperatures and snowfall predicted for February could drive rodents indoors.
• Hartford: Excessive early season snowfall likely drove rodents indoors early, and below-average temperatures and precipitation for the remainder of winter will likely keep them there.
• Los Angeles: Exceedingly wet and warm conditions in fall may have driven peridomestic cockroaches indoors early in search of food and other resources.
• Miami: After having its second-wettest December on record, above-average temperatures for the remainder of winter could provide ideal conditions for mosquitoes and cockroaches.
• New York: After experiencing its fifth-wettest December on record, which likely drove rodents indoors early, exceedingly dry conditions for the remainder of winter could keep them there.
• Salt Lake City: After a mild start to winter, predicted freezing temperatures for the remainder of the season may lead to increased rodent activity in or around structures.
• San Antonio: After an unseasonably warm fall and start to winter, above-average precipitation for the remainder of the season could lead to a spike in peridomestic cockroach activity.
• Washington, D.C.: An exceedingly cold start to fall, coupled with continuing cold and dry conditions for the remainder of winter could contribute to an increase in rodent pressure indoors.