Rodents

Mice – Mus domesticus

Appearance

Mice will generally not exceed 2 inches in length. Depending on the mouse species they can be gray, light brown, and sometimes white.

Behavior

Mice can breed year round if the conditions are correct, but reproduction often depends on the availability of food. They will feed throughout the day eating multiple times. Mice will chew on wood, packaging, and even wires. Mice are primarily active at night. They are extremely curious by nature, which makes treating them much easier than rats. Mice are extremely agile they can jump 12 inches vertically, are excellent climbers, and can squeeze through openings about the size of a dime. Mice will establish a nest, but will travel 100 to 150 feet from the nest as they scavenge for food. They usually enter homes in search of food, and will most often nest in cupboards, wall voids, and basements. They will enter the home through vents and holes where cables go into the house. Mice have been known to carry a number of diseases such as salmonellosis, meningitis, and dermatitis.

Habitat

Outdoors mice will burrow holes in the soil and mostly live in fields, pastures, under trees, or any place they can find shelter.

Control Advice

If there is an infestation contact professionals, such as Precise, otherwise over-the-counter traps and baits can be effective. To prevent an infestation make sure to provide as little harborage as possible that might attract mice and seal any hole or cracks that would give access to the home.

Rats – Genus Rattus

Appearance

Rats are much larger than mice. Full grown rats are between 10 and 12 inches long. They will vary in color from black to brown to gray. There are two main types of rats: the Norway rat, with smaller eyes, smaller ears, a shorter tail, and a blunt nose, and the Roof rat, with long tails, large eyes, large, ears, thinner bodies, and a more pointed nose.

Behavior

Rats have long been associated with disease. The great plague of 1665 was said to be caused by rats, they carry typhus fever, salmonella, and trichinosis. Rats are social animals and will live in colonies. They establish nests in which to raise their young and store food. Rats will leave their nest and forage for food from about dusk until midnight. They are extremely hesitant of any new object that enters their territory; they will avoid any bait station for up to three weeks before exploring; which makes treatment sometimes a lengthy process. Rats’ incisors grow at a rate of 5 inches per year so they are continually gnawing on objects. If rats do enter your home it will most likely occur in the fall as food becomes scarce. Rats like mice are extremely agile. They are excellent climbers and can squeeze their bodies through a hole about the size of quarter. They will enter the home through vents and holes where cables go into the house.

Control Advice

If there is an infestation contact professionals, such as Precise. Over the counter products are sometimes effective, but must be correctly placed and regularly checked. Rats can be extremely difficult to control. To prevent an infestation make sure to provide as little harborage as possible that might attract mice and seal any hole or cracks that would give access to the home.