I keep the place pretty rodent free. The main culprits are ground squirrels and the occasional prairie dog.
The main means of infection is outdoor cats finding these critters dead, or catching them. Then the cats bring the fleas inside.
Then there’s Hantavirus...
The first time I heard that there was bubonic plague in the squirrel population in Pomona, CA, I was stunned. At the time, I had no idea that it was as widespread as the CDC map shows.
Fortunately, because of antibiotics, it’s not the killer it once was, but still. **”THE PLAGUE????”** !!!
Ew.
Yes, Hantavirus is quite a bit more serious since it’s usually fatal.