How can rodents damage crops and stored food?

Rodents can significantly impact human food supplies through their adaptation to man-made habitats. They damage crops directly before they are harvested and contaminate stored food supplies with their waste.1

Beyond direct consumption and spoilage, rodents cause structural damage that can indirectly affect food storage and agricultural infrastructure. Their habit of gnawing can destroy various objects, while their burrowing activities can compromise water-impounding structures, leading to leaks. While only a small number of species are considered serious pests, those that have adapted to live closely with humans, such as the rat and house mouse, are responsible for the majority of these agricultural and economic losses.1