Rodents, Rats and Mice
Rodents can enter a building through almost any opening or crack. It is important to inspect for rodent droppings, especially in undisturbed areas such as pantries, under baseboards and along walls. Rodent droppings most often cause allergic reactions in human beings but can also cause disease, including the potentially deadly Hantavirus. More frequently, though, rodents serve as vectors, carrying bacteria, such as salmonella, on their bodies and contaminating food sources, kitchen surfaces and equipment. A pest control professional can offer the expertise and knowledge of rodent biology to best protect your health and rid your home of a rodent infestation.
Reasons To Control Mice
The house mouse is remarkably well-adapted for living year-round in homes, food establishments and other structures. Homeowners are especially likely to notice mice during winter, following their fall migration indoors in search of warmth, food and shelter. Once mice become established inside a home, they can be extremely difficult to control.
Although most people consider mice less objectionable than rats, mice are more common and cause significantly more damage. Mice are prolific breeders, producing 6-10 litters continuously throughout the year. The greatest economic loss from mice is not due to how much they eat, but what must be thrown out because of damage or contamination. Food, clothing, furniture, books and many other household items are contaminated by their droppings and urine, or damaged by their gnawing. House mice gnaw through electrical wiring, causing fires and failure of freezers, clothes dryers and other appliances. Mice also can transmit diseases, most notably salmonellosis (bacterial food poisoning) when food is contaminated with infected rodent feces.
Mouse Behavior
Mice are nocturnal creatures, and, therefore, are rarely seen by the homeowner. The most obvious indicators of their presence are droppings (1/8 - 1/2-inches long, dark and pointed at both ends), sounds of them running, gnawing or squeaking, or damage to stored food or materials used for nesting.
Compared to rats, mice forage only short distances from their nest -- usually not more than 10-25 feet. When food and shelter are adequate, their foraging range may be only a few feet. For this reason, traps and other control devices must be placed in areas where mouse activity is most apparent. Mice prefer to travel adjacent to walls and other edges-- another critical point to remember when positioning control devices. Mice are very inquisitive and will investigate each new object placed in their foraging territory. If control devices are not initially successful, move them around to a different location.
Mice feed on a wide variety of foods but prefer seeds and cereal grains. They also are fond of foods high in fat and protein such as nuts, bacon, butter and sweets (an important point to remember when choosing a bait for snap traps). Mice are "nibblers" and may make 20-30 visits to different food sites each night.
Rat Facts
The fact about rats is that they are everywhere and not easy to control unless you are a professional. Specifications for rats can vary the length of an average rat is from 6-18 inches that's including their tail. Roof rats tend to be charcoal grey in color as compare to your sewer rat which is a brownish tan. Their diet consists of eating almost everything, its not much of a diet. They consume ½ to 2oz of liquid a day. These are nocturnal creatures they eat and drink under the cover of darkness. They are loud and gnaw at anything they can, rats have been known to cause electrical fires in homes by exposing electrical wires in attics. Rats are the cause of much damage and carriers of parasites and disease.
Rats Breeding
Your home has now a days become the preferred breeding ground for most rats. They breed throughout the year. Producing as many as 4 litters a year, each litter from 4 to 6 pups. Insulation in your attic makes perfect nesting quarters for rats. Urine and feces compiled in attics can pose serious health risks.
The term rodent encompasses both mice and rats. Rodents are night-traveling creatures, known to eat and contaminate food, damage buildings and other property by their gnawing and burrowing and may spread diseases (such as salmonella) that affect people and pets.
Mice are commonly found in homes and can live for up to 18 months. They range in length from 5 to 8 inches and can weigh up to 1 ounce. Females can produce anywhere from 36 to 192 offspring per year. Rats, specifically the Norway Rat, are commonly found in urban and suburban areas of North America. They range in length from 13 to 18 inches and can weigh up to 11 ounces. Females can produce anywhere from 35 to 85 offspring annually; the average rat will live up to a little under a year. Rats have been known to transmit disease such as the plague and tuberculosis.
What do I look for?
Signs of rodents include:
- The presence of fecal droppings
- Visual identification of live or dead rodents
- Visible signs of destruction to buildings and other property