Seattle Times Confirms Rare Mouse-Carried Disease in Area

The Seattle-King County Health Department has a page devoted to providing information on Hantavirus "carried by some rodents in King county, including deer mice."  Click Here 
Seattle Times Story

The Public Health Insider states, "Two cases of Hantavirus reportd in King county since December, 2016: Be aware of health risks associated with deer mouse infestations."

While the disease does not spread from person to person it can be picked up, usually inhaled, in dust or mist particles where mouse droppings or urine are present.  The problem is that urine is fairly invisible without a blacklight detector and even the droppings are often wide spread.  

Mice are so small and agile that they often occur in garages, crawlspaces beneath flooring and attics.  Sometimes they do get into our living spaces such as bedrooms and kitchens as well.

Mice can climb and squeeze almost anywhere.  Unlike rats, which urinate more or less at designated locations, mice "dribble" as they go potentially leaving many spots that could be contaminated with hantavirus.

KOMO news reported that this was the first case of hantavirus in King county in 14 years.  This shows how rare a disease this is,  Cascade Pest Control originally began preparing for an outbreak of hantavirus in 1993 when a number of people died in the four-corner region of the southwest United States.  As it turned out few cases ever occurred in Washington state and it appeared that eastern Washington, with all it's drier land and deer mouse population would have most cases when they did show up.  Cases of hantavirus in King county are rare and health officials are cautious now that two cases have occurred within months and within a local proximity.

The Washington State Department of health has a link for pest disease prevention-hantavirus.
Among their precautions listed are:

Keep rodents out of your home and workplace. Always take precautions when cleaning, sealing and trapping rodent-infested areas.

Seal up cracks and gaps in buildings that are larger than 1/4 inch including window and door sills, under sinks around the pipes, in foundations, attics and any rodent entry hole.

Trap indoor rats and mice with snap traps.

Remove rodent food sources. Keep food (including pet food) in rodent proof containers.

Clean up rodent infested areas:

• Wear rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
• Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
• Thoroughly wet contaminated areas including trapped mice, droppings, and nests with a 10% hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1½ cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water (or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Once everything is soaked for 10 minutes, remove all of the nest material, mice or droppings with damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution.
• Steam clean or shampoo upholstered furniture and carpets with evidence of rodent exposure.
• Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag along with all cleaning materials. Bury, burn, or throw out rodent in appropriate waste disposal system.
• Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before taking them off.
• After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available).

For more information on mice, mouse biology and control, mouse prevention, mouse-proofing, mouse-filth cleanup.

Cascade Pest Control has provided mouse and rodent control since 1979.
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Hantavirus hits King county's Eastside, greater Seattle.

HANTAVIRUS HITS King County's Eastside, greater Seattle. One dead in Issaquah and another hospitalized from Redmond, Washington from mouse-carried hantavirous disease.

Seattle has quickly gained prominence with it's very high Rat population--greatly due to the moderate climate as well as a growing population that has filled rural areas with homes and tied all cities together.  Now we have news from the outlying areas where mice are more prominent. 

Cascade technicians have long known that rats are predominant in the city and suburban areas, however, wherever neighborhoods abut natural areas mice are more common.  Along homes that skirt rural and wilderness areas mice are rampant. But finding the killer strain of hantavirus in Washington is new, and a particular concern located this close to a major metropolitan area. 

In the past hantavirus outbreaks that resulted in deaths most often occurred in rural areas or small towns. Hantavirus is can be deadly and is spread by various types of wild mice, often known as "field mice" or "dear mice." 

---- CAll Cascade today at 1(989)989-8979 ----
Cascade is ready to provide mouse and rodent inspections, control and protection ----
Original Article Q13FOX
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Automobiles get Trashed by Rodents in Redmond, WA

This engine compartment was trashed by rodents. The cleaning work will be considerable, but the damage to hoses, belts and wiring could cost a lot more $$$$!. "This is the engine bay/ mouse motel of a 1961 Olds Super 88. This was my great grand dad's car, and has been sitting in a barn since 1977. I just recently purchased it from my late grand dad's estate. Now I am making plans to get it to my house to bring it back to a road worthy condition, with no mouse nest!" Thanks to Brent in Redmond Washington for the story. Cascade provides rodent and pest control for the Redmond, Kirkland and Greater Eastside area. For more information about Cascade and rodent control see For pest control in Redmond For Pest control in Kirkland

Rat Infest Autos in Puget Sound Area

Auto mechanics all over the Puget Sound Region are finding a huge increase in damage due to rodents. They chew through wiring and other electronic harnesses, hoses and upholstery resulting in hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage. This photo was shared by Gary Garvin and shows a dead rat stuck under a Honda. Cascade provides rat and rodent control in the Greater Seattle area, including the Eastside (Kirkland, etc) and Everett. Cascade also provides rat/rodent control in Oak Harbor, WA. For more information see

Seattle Overrun with Rats near Lake Union

Rats "take over" a Seattle street!

USA Today published this video article from September 2015, showing an area of South Lake Union in Seattle that is overrun with rats. The nearby construction in the area has displaced a large population of rats, and they are literally running all over the hillside looking for food.

This is not uncommon in the Puget Sound area, as rats are native to the area and have plenty of harborage, water sources, and food. Some municipalities however, such as Kirkland and Shoreline, require a pre-demolition rodent abatement program to reduce/eliminate the rat populations before a demolition permit will be allowed.

Rat Found in Toilet - Redmond (Greater Seattle) Good Job Girl's!!!

Thank you Gil for bringing in this video taken by some gals--roommates--in the Redmond area, a suburb of Seattle. Yes, rats do come up from the sewer. And, yes, rats do come right up into our toilets where we might be about to sit! Cascade Pest Control provides rat control in Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Everett and beyond. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control

Seattle Rat not to be left behind has his own Pizza!!!!!

After all the commotion about the puny New York rat carrying off a slice of pizza our own home town 'Seattle Rat' made his statement by stealing and eating some pizza. As you can hear there are dogs barking and police sirens going off as this footage shows. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control

Welcome Mike Sven (a.k.a. Seattle Pizza Rat!)

Micheal Sven brings his good nature and gumption to our Cascade team. And here he is in disguise! Click here to meet our whole team! Cascade Pest Control

Meet Bryant Myles.... what?

Bryant Myles, Cascade Technician extraordinaire, is seen here modeling his new winter ensemble, complete with tail.

Wait a minute. Mr Myles you are out of uniform! We want everyone to know that this is not acceptable dress code for meeting clients. Wait again...something's happening. OH,okay, here he is in uniform...I guess he just 'had a moment."

Seriously, Bryant is making headway mastering his skills in pest control, rat and rodent control in particular. Way to go Bryant! Thanks for your contribution to the Cascade Team! Cascade Pest Control

Drones fly into the picture for pest control

Drones are the latest technology gadget to emerge in the fight against pests worldwide. CNN shares a clip here on how these flyers help Australian farmers deal with costly agricultural pests: feral pigs, wild dogs and deer that cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to crops.

While the drone used in the video clip appears to be a de-militarized version, here in the States there are thousands if not millions of people learning to fly. There are already reports of pest professionals using these flying cameras to help with inspections of roofs, gutter lines, trees and surrounding vegetation. Have you seen drones flying around your house or neighborhood? What are your thoughts on businesses using this kind of technology?

Cascade's "Seattle Rat" BEWARE!

Technicians please post comments!! Humor courtesy of Casacde Pest Control. Www.cascadepest.com/rodent-overview/ Cascade Pest Control

Rats Come up through Toilets...Cascade Humor version

Controlling rats can be a tough and dirty job. And, yes, real rats do swim up from the sewer into peoples toilets. Here's our way to have a little fun with it, have some humor about what we do. Cascade's Rat In Toilet video ENJOY! Cascade Pest Control

Another Case of Plague - This Time in New Mexico

Another case of bubonic plague was confirmed in New Mexico, the fourth confirmed in the U.S. The patient is a 73-year old woman who, after hospitalization, is now recovering at home. Bubonic plague--or the plague organism-- is carried by fleas which, in turn, are carried about by rats. So rats are then the principle "vectors" of plague. And, as it stands, the frequency of plague cases are rare. Rats may rarely carry plague, but they do very frequently carry other disease organisms. One of the most frequent causes "Rat Bite Fever." Videos about rat-bite fever. For more information about rodent- or rat-carried diseases see related playlist on our Youtube channel: Cascade Pest Control. For information on rat control, rat inspections, rodent control, rodent inspections, rodent-proofing and exclusion from www.CascadePest.com . Rodent control is important to our health and well-being because rats contaminate our food and/or living space, spread diseases, cause damage such as by compressing insulation or gnawing on electrical wires. Rats live in cities, both urban and suburban areas...wherever there is enough human population to help them by with garbage, food (often pet food and bird seed or compost...but sometimes our actual food from household kitchens to stores to warehouses.) We also supply rats (rattus novegicus and rattus rattus) shelter with the cavities of our walls, attics and crawlspaces and our insulation for their nest material. Rat control should be maintained by professionals and an ongoing maintenance program designed to protect your home from future invasion. The rat populations is maintained throughout greater Seattle, from areas up north like Arlingtion down through Everett, Lynnwood, and down through Seattle north-to-south. The resident rodent population resides in other homes, greenbelts, saltwater beaches and so on. Besides a continuous rat population "reservoir" down through Seattle, there are more or less continuous pockets of rats living clear around the north end of lake Washington and in the communities of Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland and down through Bellevue. Mercer Island is not immune. It has a high incidence of rats, many of which take refuge in the many greenbelts. This pattern of fairly continuous pockets of rat population "networks" also runs down through Maple Valley to Renton, SeaTac (including the airport), Burien, Des Moines and Kent. A few decades ago rats weren't found on the Sammamish plateau. But now, with the many housing developments the former population of field mice are rapidly being displaced by rats, found often now in Snoqualmie and North Bend.

Bubonic Plague Reported in Michigan

There have been 14 human cases of bubonic plague in the United States this year alone. A fact few Americans are aware of. Just recently the Michigan Dept. of Health & Human Services reported a new case near Lake Superior. Locating the "reservoir" of rats carrying bubonic plague is being complicated by the fact that this person had recently traveled to Colorado and back. See original article. Cases of bubonic plague, while rare, show up in various parts of the country. In the 1960's rats carrying fleas infested with bubonic plague were found. Since 1970 most cases have been from New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. However, with Seattle ranking highly* among the most rat-infested cities in the U.S. could harbor some bubonic plague carrying rats as well. Rats actually carry fleas, particularly the oriental rat flea, which in turn carry the plague organism. See Cascade Pest Control YouTube channel with playlist devoted to rodent-borne diseases. For more information on Rats and Rodents in the greater Seattle, Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Kirkland +), King county and Snohomish county. *Seattle ranked 7th and 1st on two different reports within the last 12 months.

Cascade's YouTube Channel - Rats in Restuarants

We have compiled about 17 videos from all over the world which depict rats or rodents in restaurants. It's pretty graphic at times but shows us the real threat to our food supply...mostly in terms of contamination and the spread of disease. What's quite something are the reactions of people when they realize there are rats in a restaurant...perhaps a restaurant they frequent...up to now. Rats are a huge problem in the greater Seattle area, which includes Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Everett and so on. And the rat population is strong. Seattle has ranked both 7th and 1st most rat-infested large city in the U.S.! There rats can show up anywhere, whether a vacant lot, a restaurant or our homes. Other rodent problems we encounter are house mice and deer, or field, mice. So, take a look at our YouTube channel, "Cascade Pest Control," where you will find both entertaining video playlists as well as educational ones. For more information about rats and their control see our Rodent page within our website. Don Leland

Cost of Pest Control at busy Airports?

With all the jets going back and forth, and the enormous amount of people coming and going, we mostly notice the rush, the security and the schedules of Arrivals and Departures. But with all those people come food--restaurants as well as the food services to replenish the airliners for their passengers. And there is the waste: waste food and cooking debris...and also all the waste products that come off the airplanes. There is usually an on-going rat or mouse population around airports that, hopefully, you don't have to see. Then you add all the places that jets travel and the possibility of transiting parasites, insects and particularly bed bugs in all that luggage! What does it cost? Well, Los Angeles' airport, LAX, has just caught up with the pest control budgets employed by other major airports and it will be $750,000 per years to protect the airport from runaway pest infestations. Part of the cost will insure that there is a pest control technician on site 24 hours/day, 365 days a year! Our own SeaTac has a similar budget and has had long-term experience with rat problems.

For more information about rats, rat control or rodent control. For information about rodent exclusion and preventing rats. here we discuss how to block out rats, to create a rodent-proof barrier. For information about why rats and mice are so successful. Here we discuss the abilities of rats and mice to climb, gnaw, chew, jump, swim and burrow their way into a home or business. Don Leland

Ants may Harbor Virus that Threatens Honey Bees

Researchers in New Zealand, Argentina and Australia conducted a study showing that a previously unknown virus--one which may have caused massive honey bee deaths in New Zealand...in carried by ants. The virus causes "deformed Wing," which is correlated with hive collapse. Original Article This finding comes as honey bee populations have experienced a significant decline. Speculations have risen about certain, specific pesticides to other factors. However, the primary causal factor continues to allude science. Much more will need investigated and uncovered for us to stave the collapse of bee populations in the U.S. and certain other regions on the planet. Some researchers point to the fact that our modern, large-scale agriculturally-driven practice of raising massive amounts of honey bees--apis sp.--is basically set us up for failure. Our many crop systems, including everything from alfalfa to berry and orchard crops now rely on a mono-culture of pollinators--the "European" and "Caucasian" honey bees (two strains of one species.) Healthy, and natural pollinator systems rely and a wide range of various bees, some wasps, beetles, butterflies, and even flies. Such a system would required us to move from mono crop cultures as well, but specifically would favor green belts of bushes and trees near crops to supply the naturally occurring range of pollinating insects. Originally from NPR, and can be heard here. Don Leland

Woman Has Portions of All her Limbs Amputated Due to Tick Bite

It's a very rare instance, but a 40-year-old Oklahoma woman had portions each leg and each arm amputated due to a life-threatening infection from a tick bite this summer. Her name is Jo Rogers, a mother of two. She likely got bit--and, hence, contracted the disease, while hiking. This is an extreme case, but we are not without ticks here in the Seattle - Puget Sound region. Yes, there are far more ticks usually found in eastern Washington, but we do have ticks here in western Washington as well. Many are found on deer trails in the woods right around us. Perhaps the most common species of tick here is the 'brown dog tick.' Don't let the name fool you...deer and other animals are their hosts as much, if not more, than dogs.

Fortunately, we have few cases where ticks are plentiful on any small portion of property and neither homes nor lawns--knock on wood--need be treated. Nevertheless, we at Cascade Pest Control provide control for fleas and, in the rare instance, ticks. Cascade Pest Control is dedicated to protecting your health and property. Call Cascade Pest Control for all your rat, rodent, insect and other pest needs.  Don Leland

Opossums In the Bellevue-Eastside Area

Opossums are not native to the Pacific Northwest. Nonetheless, opossums are now wide-spread and have been cited in Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Everett, Issaquah and just about every other city and town of King and Snohomish counties.

Here's a few facts about opossums:

1. The only opossum species in North America are the "Virginia 'Possums." 
2. Males average about 6 lbs. and females normally weigh in at around 4 lbs. But they can sometimes weigh as much as 15 lbs! 
3. Opossums have a gland somewhat like a skunk and can emit a similar odor. 
4. When attacked they can "run." But they may also snarl at their attacker. And, of course, they can also "play possum," that is, they hold still and act as if dead. 
5. We at Cascade get a few calls here and there for infestations in crawl spaces beneath the home. 
6. On some calls we've encountered them eating copious amounts of dog food. One technician went out into the client's garage--with the client--only to find an opossum starring up at them from the bottom of a large bin of dog food! 

Opossums are just another example of vertebrate pests of homes in the greater Seattle, Eastside and other areas. Of course, rats still cause the most damage and calls. But opossums are strange to encounter. You might at first think you'd found an "atomic rat!" Cascade Nuisance Wildlife Control. Call Cascade Pest Control for all your rat, rodent, insect and other pest needs.  Don Leland

Ant Researcher Nearly got Arrested!

Dr. Laurel Hansen We at Cascade Pest Control have known Dr. Laurel Hansen for decades. In fact, nearly 40 years ago, and prior to the inception of Cascade, I (Kurt T.) was collecting carpenter ant samples from around the greater Seattle area and sending them to Dr. Akre, her professor. I later found out that I could have been better directed as some of what I collected was not quite what she needed. But I did my best to contribute samples and she went on to earning her PhD. Since then she's been perhaps North America's expert on campnotus...carpenter ants. And we at Cascade have attended her lectures and even brought her in for training. But the funny thing is that some years ago when Ms. Hansen was conducting research at night following carpenter ants with red-shaded flashlights. She had permission of the property owners, but apparently the property owners hadn't mentioned her nighttime studies to their vacation-time house sitter. The house-sitter called the police who found her and her, along with some entomological colleagues, "lurking" about in the dark shining red-colored light onto the ground. It took some explaining but eventually the police let her go, but not without her teaching them a thing or two about ants! :)

Shown here is 'damage done by carpenter ants' and 'lone carpenter ant worker.' For more information on carpenter ants. http://www.cascadepest.com/ant-control/ Cascade Pest Control provides Carpenter Ant and other Ant control in the greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Kent, Lynnwood, Woodinville and beyond. Cascade also provides rat and rodent control. Don Leland