Rat & Mice Exterminators – Control – Removal

The word rodent originates from the French word rodere, meaning “to gnaw.” Rodents use their powerful incisor teeth as chisel tools to gnaw through insulation, wood, walls and electrical wiring causing extensive damage to homes and structures. Common pest rodents include the house mouse, deer mouse, Norway rat, roof rat and wood rat commonly called a pack rat. Rodents are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and not during the day. 

All rodents are mammals and share a few common characteristics including furry robust bodies, short legs, long tails and a pair of incisor teeth that never stop growing. They use their sharp teeth to gnaw food, excavate burrows and to defend themselves. Most rodents tend to prefer eating plant foods like seeds, grains, and small fruit. However, mice and rats are omnivores, meaning their diet consists of plant and animal products.

The house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rat are the three most important rodent pests to invade homes. These rodents are commensal, which means “to share the table.” They have been given this name as they live near and benefit from an association with humans, inhabiting homes, gardens, farms, food stores, apartments and commercial buildings.

The major differences between mice and rats are their size and diet. The typical house mouse is 2-4” in length, as opposed to the Norway rat or roof rat, which can measure up to 9” in length.  Both mice and rats are omnivores, but rats will eat anything, and generally prefer meat, pet food, fish, and stored cheeses. Mice prefer grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

Adult house mice range in total size from 5-8” in length, including their tail. Their ears are moderately large and distinct and their bodies can be light brown to nearly black in color, with a belly that is slightly lighter. House mouse tails are hairless and as long as the body and head combined. The average adult weighs up to 1 ounce, although some mice may be heavier.

The Norway rat is relatively large and the average adult measures 16” in total length from its nose to the end of its tail, and weighs about 12 ounces. The length of the tail is shorter than its body and it is typically grayish brown to black or reddish-brown in color. The Norway rat’s tail is darker on top and more pale underneath.

Adult roof rats, sometimes called black rats, are medium-sized rats weighing 8 – 12 ounces and measuring about 16” in total length from nose to tip of tail. Although their length is similar to the Norway rat, the roof rat’s tail is longer than the body and a key identifying characteristic. In general, roof rats are sleeker than Norway rats. Adults may be brown to entirely black in color. 

House mice build nests outdoors in ground burrows, barns and sheds, and will construct nests indoors in attics, wall voids, storage boxes, and under appliances. Norway rats build burrows outside along foundations and gardens or may be found inside homes, in basements and crawl spaces. Roof rats are good climbers and nest in trees, rooflines, block walls, attics, garages, sheds and in ceilings.

Mice and rats use their exceptional athletic abilities to gain access to homes. Rodents are excellent climbers and rats can jump from overhanging trees to access roof lines and attics. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime and rats only need a gap the size of a quarter. Rodents enter homes using gaps around dryer vents, utility pipes, exterior doors, and garage doors, and will also gain entry through chimneys.

Rodents are known to spread more than 35 diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella. These diseases can be spread to humans directly by handling live or dead rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, and through rodent bites. Additionally, the droppings and urine of house mice and rats contain allergens that can trigger rhinitis in susceptible individuals.

Because of their gnawing damage to wires, pipes, gas lines, and the like, rodent infestations hold the potential for serious damage relative to fires and explosions. Accounts of the rodents’ ability to start fires by carrying matches to their hiding places, as well as by causing short circuits through the gnawing of electrical wires have been widely reported. Chewed, exposed wires inside walls may spark, causing interior walls to catch fire.

The sighting of  live or dead rodents on your property, is a sure sign of rodent activity. Also look for droppings, gnaw marks, gnawed fruit in trees, and scratching sounds at night. Look for gnaw marks on door corners, walls, and baseboards. Rat droppings are shiny black and ½ to ¾” long, and mice droppings are smaller with pointed ends. Spotting burrows outdoors along foundations, walls or trees is a sign of Norway rat activity.

Rodents enter homes for three reasons—food, shelter and warmth. Mice and rats are warm-blooded mammals and will nest in attics, wall voids, garages, and crawl spaces. Rodents will eat anything and are especially attracted to food sources like grains, meat, birdseed, pet food, and garbage debris. Leaky faucets and dripping pipes provide rodents the water needed for survival. Compost piles and pet waste debris in yards are another food source and very attractive to rodents.  

The three steps homeowners can take to help eliminate a rodent infestation are inspection, sanitation, and exclusion. First, inspect your property for signs of rodents and then eliminate entry points by rodent-proofing your home. Snap traps, live traps, and glue boards can be an easy and inexpensive way to get rid of rodents. However, if the rodent infestation is large, a pest management professional may be required to eliminate the infestation for good.   

Eliminating access to your home and removing any food or water resources will help to deter a rodent infestation. Seal gaps and holes around utility cables, outdoor vents or pipework with steel wool or silicone-based caulk. Remove clutter, keep a clean home,  and use tight-fitting lids on trash bins. Outdoors, pick up fallen fruit, clean up around bird feeders or use a “no-waste bird food”, remove leaf litter and pick up pet waste.