Autumn is a wonderful time of year. The Summertime pests go into hibernation or die off, the weather cools down and the Holidays are right around the corner! Soon we will be breaking out the holiday décor and preparing ourselves for this year’s festivities! For most, this means going into spaces that are less frequented by humans. Before you go rummaging about through your storage spaces, be sure to check first for signs of creepy crawlies and rodents! This is the time of year we see an influx in rodent activity because they are seeking refuge from the cold. Attics, basements, garages, storage sheds and closets are the perfect places for these unwanted house guests to seek refuge because they are mostly undisturbed for long periods of time. Rodents are dirty and carry more than 30 diseases! Each year, rodents cause roughly $20 billion in damages to homes, businesses and agriculture in the U.S. alone. Needless to say, you do not want to share your home with a rodent! Following are some helpful tips on how to identify which of the three most common rodents you may be dealing with, and which signs to watch for to detect an infestation early.
Brown Norway Rat
AKA the street rat, Norway rat, sewer rat etc. These are one of the largest rodent species one will encounter in their home. They are either Brown or Grey in color, and measure 11 inches from their nose to the base of their tail. They have a shorter tail than other rodents, small round ears and can weigh in over a pound!
Black Roof Rat
AKA the ship rat or roof rat. These rats weigh in between 3-12 ounces and grow the be an average of 13-18 inches in length! These rats sport a long tail that will exceeds the length of their body. These guys are much more-slender than Norway rats and have much bigger ears. They are adept for climbing structures, walls, wires and narrow ledges.
House Mouse
These mice are much smaller than their rat counterparts only weighing in at .5-1.6 oz in adulthood and only reaching a length of 2-3.9 inches from nose to base of tail. They vary in color from light brown to black to champagne, even white! These guys may not look threatening, but mice have much higher populations that rats do and where you find one, you will always find more.
How to Tell if Your Have Mice or Rats in Your Walls & Home
Some of the most obvious signs of rodent infestations include;
Scratching & Squealing Sounds– Especially at night, you may hear gnawing, scratching or squeaks and squeals. Listen for these sounds coming from your walls, attics or garage.
Rodent Droppings– If you find droppings in or around your home, the size of the feces is a good indication of what type of rodent you are dealing with. Mouse droppings are about the size of a short grain of rice, while rat feces are about the size of a raisin.
Rodent Nests– These can be made of out organic and inorganic material. Rodents love making their nests out of old clothing, gloves, carpet, straw, anything they can get their tiny little claws on.
Chew Marks– Rodents teeth never stop growing so they have a constant primal urge to gnaw on things to keep them filed down. Look for chew marks on wood, your homes structure, storage boxes or in the food boxes in your pantry.
Musty Odor– If you smell a musty odor, you are likely dealing with mice and not rats.
Rodent Inspections, Control & Removal in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you find one rodent in your home or yard, there are likely more! A Five Termite & Pest Control offers custom methods to help you exterminate and control rodent populations at your home or business. We offer effective methods to get them out of your home and help you to keep them from coming back. If you believe you have a rodent problem, you should act quickly. Rodents are extremely fast breeders and their populations spread quickly. Give us a call to help you solve all your rodent problems!
