We may have been able to enjoy takeout when the restaurants closed, but scavenging rodents didn't have the luxury of using delivery services like NoCo Nosh.

According to The Denver Channel, the restaurant closures caused a decline in rodent populations, as the animals could no longer snack on our leftovers.

But as restaurants begin to reopen, the CDC believes that rodent populations will ramp back up.

And, because the animals haven't seen a normal food supply in a while, the organization predicts that the returning rodents will be particularly 'hangry.'

"Jurisdictions have closed or limited service at restaurants...rodents rely on food and waste generated by these establishments," said the CDC in a press release. "Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to rodents and reports of unusual or aggressive behavior."

The organization reports that the animals can spread up to 35 infectious diseases to humans through feces, urine, saliva, bites, ticks, mites, and fleas.

In order to avoid being contaminated by an angry rodent, the CDC suggests that residents and business owners take the following actions:

  • seal up access points to homes and businesses
  • remove heavy vegetation and debris
  • keep garbage cans tightly covered
  • keep pet food and bird feed out of the yard

Well, at least we probably won't be seeing the murder hornets.

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