Sep 27, 2019 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Signs of a rodent infestation are pretty easy to spot – droppings in the house, chew marks, gnawed wood, and scratching and squealing sounds at night are all pretty good indicators of a rodent problem. Before deciding on a course of treatment, however, the first step is determining which type of rodent you have. So how do you know if you have a rat or a mouse?
Mice:
Mice are small rodents, usually about 2 to 4″ in length, with thin, long, slightly hairy tails. They have triangular shaped noses with long whiskers and large floppy ears. Mice can be brown, gray, or white in color. Mice droppings are small and smooth with pointed ends, usually about 1/8 to 1/4″ in length. They leave anywhere from 40 to 100 droppings per day. Mice prefer cereal grains or plants but will eat almost anything. They are nocturnal and tend to be bolder than rats. They are curious and will explore new things, making them easier to trap. They are skillful climbers and their small size allows them to access more areas of your home.
Norway Rats:
Norway rats are larger rodents, usually weighing about 11 ounces and measuring 7 to 9 inches in length. They have heavy, thick bodies that are brown in color with black shading and shaggy coats. Norway rats have blunt, rounded noses and short ears. Their tails are thick, hairless, and scaly and are dark colored on top and pale underneath. Norway rat droppings are brown and blunt on both ends and they leave anywhere from 20 to 50 droppings per day. They prefer fresh grains and meat but will eat just about anything. These rats typically live in burrows and prefer lower levels of homes and buildings. Norway rats are nocturnal and are more fearful and cautious than mice, making them more difficult to trap. They can climb but prefer to stay closer to the ground.
Roof Rats:
Roof rats are smaller than Norway rats, weighing about 7 ounces. They have light, slender bodies that are gray in color with smooth coats. They have thick, hairless, scaly tails that are dark in color. Roof rats have pointed snouts with large ears. Roof rat droppings are dark with both ends pointed. They will also eat just about anything but prefer fresh grains and meat. They are nocturnal and timid in nature. Because of this, they can be difficult to trap. They are excellent climbers and are more often found nesting in walls, attics, and trees.
Rodent Control:
Regardless of whether you have mice, Norway rats, or roof rats, all of these rodent species can cause damage to your home and property by chewing through wires, pipes, insulation, and drywall. They can also cause damage to furniture and carpets. All rodents can contaminate food and countertops. Serious diseases caused by rat droppings and mouse droppings include Hantavirus, salmonellosis, and more. They all reproduce quickly and a minor problem can become a major infestation in no time.
Keeping these pests out of your home is critical to helping protect the safety of both your family and your property. Here are some rodent control tips you can implement in and around your home:
- Put A Lid On Your Trash: If possible, use trashcans made of metal with snug fitting lids. If you must use plastic, make sure there are no holes in it.
- Don’t Leave Pet Food Out: Store pet food and birdseed in glass or metal containers with tight lids. Make sure to remove them at night and store them away until morning. Make sure to pick up any fallen fruit or nuts off the ground outside your home, as well. Remove standing water from bird feeders.
- Elevate Your Compost: Raise your compost container at least 1 foot off the ground.
- Keep Your Garage Clean: Rodents like to eat lawn seed, tulip bulbs, bone meal, and other items frequently used in gardening. Make sure they are stored in glass or metal containers with tight lids. Keep firewood a good distance from the house. Organize and store boxes in the garage off the ground to eliminate nesting places.
- Clean The Kitchen: Keep food stored in tightly sealed containers. Clean up spilled food and crumbs nightly.
- Keep Your Home Maintained: Make sure openings around your home are properly sealed. Keep your gutters clear of debris and water. Screen your attic vents. Keep screens on windows and doors in good repair and replace when needed.
- Call A Pro: If you suspect you have a rodent problem, call a professional pest control company or a professional wildlife removal company who can evaluate your home and provide you with a comprehensive treatment and exclusion plan.
Feb 16, 2018 | Pest Control, Wildlife
When the weather turns cold we tend to spend more time indoors enjoying the warmth from our heaters and blankets. Animals are no different! Fall and winter are the time of year when animals invade our homes in search of warmth, shelter, food and water. One of the most common pests we see in cold weather season is rodents. While rats and mice are the most common rodents we see in our area, they aren’t the only ones that can cause a problem. Chipmunks and squirrels can also cause significant damage to our homes if they get inside. Here are a few of the most common rodents in our area, as well as some tips to keep them from invading your home.
HOUSE MOUSE
- Light to dark gray in color
- Weighs 1 ounce or les
- Small and slender
- Rod shaped droppings
- Live in and around homes, farms, and commercial buildings
- Prefer foods high in fat, protein, and sugar
- Teeth grow continuously
- Cause damage by gnawing on wood and electrical wires
- Can contaminate your home with urine and feces
- Can fit through an opening the size of a dime
NORWAY RAT
- Gray in color
- Small ears
- Tail is short in relation to its head and body
- Blunt ended droppings
- Exist in large numbers
- Live in and around homes, in basements, in stores, in warehouses, on docks, in sewers, and in dumpsters
- Burrow to nest under buildings, under concrete slabs, around lakes and ponds, and near garbage
- Line their nests with shredded paper, cloth, and other fibrous material
- Nocturnal
- Eat nearly any type of food but prefer cereal grains, meat, fish, nuts, and fruit
- Can fit through an opening the size of a quarter
ROOF RAT
- Dark in color
- Weighs less than 1 lb
- Large ears
- Tail is longer than its head and body
- Spindle shaped droppings
- Spends 90% of its time above ground
- Nests in trees and sometimes attics
- Run on power lines or along the tops of fences
- Nocturnal
- Can fit through openings the size of a quarter
CHIPMUNK
- Small squirrels
- Tan and brown with dark and light stripes
- Make a series of high pitched chirps and flip tail back and forth to attract attention
- Active during the day
- Sleep in underground burrows
- Attracted to homes with gardens, flowers, bird feeders, pet food, and nut trees
- Can damage electrical lines, cable, and AC pipes
GRAY SQUIRREL
- Predominantly gray with white markings
- Short thick fur
- Bushy tail
- Weighs 1 to 1.5 lbs
- Sends most of its time looking for food
- Active year round
- Active in mornings and evenings
- Nests in attics or garages
- Also invade bird feeders and garbage cans
- Can cause significant damage to electrical wires and telephone cables
- Can also cause damage to wood, insulation, wires, and storage boxes in your attic
- Can contaminate your attic with urine and feces
FLYING SQUIRREL
- Grayish brown body
- White belly
- Soft thick fur
- 4 to 6.5 ounces
- Up to 12″ long with tail
- Large eyes
- Low soft chirp
- Nocturnal
- Eat mostly plants, seeds, nuts, leaves, bark, flowers, roots
- Nest in tree cavities
- Occasionally nest in attics (enter through roof gaps)
- Will nest in your insulation
- Can cause contamination with urine and feces
So now that you know some common rodents, what can you do to keep them from coming into your home? Check out these tips to prevent a rodent infestation.
- Clean up spilled food immediately.
- Put away all food at night, including pet food and bird feeders.
- Keep food, including pet food and bird seed, in sealed, airtight containers.
- Keep garbage can lids tightly sealed.
- Declutter your attic and basement, especially anything made of cardboard.
- Store any items you can on shelves rather than in the floor.
- Keep your yard clear of debris.
- Keep grass and shrubs cut short.
- Trim shrubs and trees away from the sides of your home.
- Store firewood off the ground and a safe distance from your home.
- Repair holes in your foundation, garage, and interior walls and any gaps in your roof.
- Seal any openings larger than 1/4″.
- Use rubber seals under garage doors.
- Use door sweeps on exterior doors.
- Use weatherstripping around windows and doors.
- Use screens that are in good repair on doors and windows.
- Seal around pipes, drains, and vents.
- Use chimney caps.
- If you suspect you have a rodent problem, contact a pest control professional.