Living With Rodents
Hantavirus pulmonary disease is a rare but serious disease that humans can contract through contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva, blood, or droppings. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir for the strain of hantavirus (Sin Nombre virus) responsible for the human cases in Yosemite National Park, and most human cases in the United States. Deer mice to hang out in and around the Park’s housing areas. It’s important that you know the basics of rodent exclusion, and how to deal with the possibility of Hantavirus.
This page contains resources to help educate yourself on living with rodents.
Educate yourself
Reduce Your Exposure
Look for evidence of rodent activity (e.g., droppings, nesting materials, gnaw marks); identify where rodents are likely to enter buildings (any opening larger than 1/4th inch) and report issues to Facilities Customer Service Desk and the YOSE Safety Office or NPS Public Health Consultant; use snap traps to remove mice and reduce indoor rodent population. Sticky traps, electric traps, and live traps are not recommended. Use of rodenticides or other poisons are prohibited.
Request an Initial Housing Assessment
Never attempt to enter a seasonal or unused building without a proper initial assessment from the YOSE Safety Office, NPS Public Health Consultant or California Department of Public Health contractor (contract is specifically used for seasonal buildings and structures with suspected or known extensive/heavy rodent contamination); respiratory protection and additional training is required to enter these spaces. If there is concern about whether an infestation is “light” or “heavy”, stop work, do not enter the structure, and contact the YOSE Safety Office or Public Health Consultant to discuss the issue and/or schedule an assessment of the structure.
Properly Clean Droppings and Traps
Ensure that your work group has clean up kits (e.g., disinfectant, paper towels, disposable gloves, trash bags), spray concentrated disinfectant and follow the instructions on the label of the disinfectant, use gloves and paper towels to clean areas, place rodents and paper towels in double plastic bags and dispose in outdoor garbage receptacle, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Rodent poison
You may need to use rodent poison, or rodenticides, to keep deer mice and other rodents out of your housing. Click the buttons below to learn more about using rodent poison safely.
