Commensal, or domestic, rodents are of tremendous public health importance. They may eat or contaminate human food, carry ectoparasites such as mites and fleas into close human contact, cause allergies in sensitive individuals and be disease carriers. In addition to their uncleanliness, rats and mice gnaw through stored food packaging, eating portions of the product and contaminating it with their feces, urine and shed hairs. They also (mostly at night) contaminate food preparation surfaces such as counter tops, table tops and cookware.