LIVE WITH RODENTS

A study released last month on living conditions for families across the United States has identified Frio County as having a rodent infestation in at least 13.8 percent of its homes.

The number represents and estimated 832 houses as suffering what the study describes as the most severe rodent problems.

Combined with data indicating how many family members live under one roof in Frio County residences, the study indicates 2,487 people are presently living with mice or rats in their homes.

“With winter in full swing, rodent infestations have become an unwelcome reality for millions of Americans,” the Cinch customer data platform reported in a prepared statement last week. “As temperatures drop, mice and rats seek warmth and food indoors, turning homes into their seasonal havens.”

According to the American Housing Survey, 11.6 percent of households nationwide report rodent problems annually, impacting an estimated 16.2 million homes and 38.5 million people, comparable to the entire population of California.

The survey indicates Frio County homes are more than two percentage points higher than the national average for having a rat or mouse infestation.

Pearsall Mayor Ben Briscoe said this week that while he acknowledges some families may do more to keep their homes free of rodents, overall living conditions in Pearsall and Frio County family homes are lower, due in part to the age of the structures.

“It’s a battle that we fight daily,” the mayor said of the ever-present threat of mice in the home, adding that he believes all levels of household income are susceptible. “We use traps, a cat, and of course we spray as well. I think there is definitely a bit of personal responsibility involved.”

“Rodents bring more than just annoyance; they pose significant health and safety risks,” the Cinch company reported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rats and mice can spread diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella through their droppings, urine, and nests. They also worsen asthma and allergies, particularly in children, the agency says.

The mayor noted that he and city councilors have examined options for attracting developers to the community with a view to modernizing the housing stock, but said that ongoing efforts to improve quality of life have relied much on clearing dilapidated lots, ridding the city of overgrown areas, and removing habitats for vermin.

“There are homes where generations of a family may have lived for years and years, and eventually an older structure becomes vacant, someone doesn’t pay the taxes, and it becomes abandoned and derelict,” Briscoe said. “In situations like that, we can demolish a building and attach a lien to the property for a later tax sale. But That doesn’t mean a developer is going to come right in and build.

“We have to do more to improve family living conditions, but we have already done a lot,” the mayor said. “It costs five to ten thousand dollars to demolish a home, and we have to wait to recoup those funds. Where can we come up with the money to make an impact?”

Beyond health hazards, rodents cause structural damage by gnawing through walls, wiring, and insulation — sometimes even sparking electrical fires, according to Cinch.

“While leaving food out, crumbs on the floor, or garbage in unsealed containers increases the likelihood of rodent infestations, factors beyond individual behavior often have a greater impact,” the report stated. “Home age, whether a home is in a rural or urban area, and local climate conditions are all strong determinants of rodent presence. These structural and environmental factors mean that some regions face consistently higher risks, even with diligent housekeeping.”

Rodent infestations are strongly linked to the age of housing stock, with older homes showing a higher prevalence of infestations, according to the data platform. Counties with the oldest homes (median age of 70 years or more) have the highest rates of rodent presence, affecting 16.4 percent of households. By comparison, only 6.8 percent of homes in counties where the median home age is less than 30 years report rodent issues. This pattern is due to older structures having more entry points, deteriorating materials, and outdated construction techniques that make them more susceptible to infestations.

Statistics used in the survey indicate that the average age of a home in Frio County is 41 years. A little more than 41 percent of the county’s population lives in an urban area.

“Over time, maintaining these aging homes becomes increasingly challenging, creating ideal conditions for rodents seeking warmth and food during colder months,” according to the study.

“There is an interest in developing properties,” the Pearsall mayor said, “if we can attract a builder. We can build homes that match the income and housing expectations of the people of Pearsall.

“Yard clean-up is an important step we can all take,” Briscoe added. “We have to work together to improve the quality of life for all the people of our city and county.”

Urbanization presents a surprising trend: rodent infestations are more common in less urbanized areas. In counties where fewer than 15 percent of the population lives in urban settings, 23.4 percent of homes report rodent problems, Cinch reported. Conversely, in highly urbanized counties where 95 percent or more of the population lives in densely populated areas, only 8.7 percent of homes are affected.

“This counters the common assumption that cities are the epicenter of rodent problems,” the study reported. “One explanation is that the data primarily measures rodent sightings inside homes rather than in public areas, where urban infestations may be more noticeable. Additionally, urban residents often live in multi-unit buildings, such as apartments or condos, which have multiple floors. Rodents are less likely to reach higher floors, making infestations less visible in these settings.

“On the other hand, single-family homes, which dominate rural areas, are closer to the ground and have more direct access points for rodents, leading to higher reported sightings and signs of infestation.”

While home age and urbanization play a key role in rodent infestations, climate is another factor influencing regional differences, according to studies of American homes and living conditions. States located in colder regions, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, report the highest percentages of homes affected by rodents. Those areas endure long, harsh winters that drive rodents indoors in search of warmth and shelter. Additionally, older housing stock and rural living conditions in those regions provide ample access points and nesting opportunities for rodents.

By contrast, warmer states like Florida and Arizona report significantly lower rodent infestation rates, with only 4.4 percent of households affected, according to Cinch. Mild winters in those states reduce the need for rodents to invade homes, while newer housing stock and higher urbanization levels limit entry points and make it harder for rodents to establish themselves indoors.

The rapid growth and modern development in states like Florida and Arizona have resulted in better-sealed homes, further reducing the likelihood of infestations.

“It’s important to note, though, that cockroach infestations are more common in these warmer climates, reflecting a different challenge for pest control,” according to the study.

Similar trends hold at the county level with those in the Midwest and Northeast reporting the highest rates of rodent sightings. Among the nation’s largest counties with populations of 500,000 or more, rodent infestations are most prevalent in areas with older housing stock and colder climates. Those areas often combine older homes with colder winters, conditions that drive rodents indoors and increase the likelihood of infestations.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, households in warm-weather counties report much lower rates of rodent sightings. Counties in Florida dominate the bottom of the list, reflecting the state’s mild winters and newer housing stock that limit rodent activity indoors.

“These patterns highlight how location, climate, and housing conditions impact rodent infestations,” Cinch reported, “underscoring the need for improved control strategies in certain areas to address the issue and protect public health.”

Statistics for the United States as a whole indicate an average 11.6 percent of homes have a rodent infestation, which equates to 16,183,331 family residences. More than an estimated average of 38.5 million people, therefore, are presently living with rodents.

Home ages vary across the United States, with new development playing a part in lessening the average age of residences. The median age of an American home, however, presently stands at approximately 45 years.

To identify the locations with the most severe rodent problems, researchers at Cinch calculated the percentage of households that reported signs of mice or rats inside the home within the prior 12 months. In the event of a tie, locations with a higher total number of households with reported rodent sightings were ranked higher.

Cinch also estimated the total number of individuals living in households with rodent activity by multiplying the percentage of affected households by the total population in each location. To provide additional context, statistics on home age and urbanization levels were included in the analysis.

Counties with populations below 1,000 were excluded. The remaining counties were categorized into three groups based on population size: small (less than 100,000), midsize (100,000–499,999), and large (500,000+). The analysis used the most recent data available from the US Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, and Geography Program.