WHAT ARE RATS AND MICE?

Rats and mice are well known for invading homes, and living in dark, gross places. They love invading homes and buildings in search of food, water, and shelter. There are 30 known species of mice and 60 known species of rats. Both are rodents and have a pair of incisors that will never stop growing, which is why they are constantly chewing things and destroying homes and businesses. In general, mice are significantly smaller than rats and measure around 12 to 320cm (4 to 8 inches) long, have smaller heads than rats do, and have larger ears than rats do. They have soft fur which is darker on top with lighter underbellies. The most common type of mouse is the common House Mouse. Rats are considerably larger than mice measuring anywhere from 40 to 64cm (16 to 25 inches). They have large, heavy, blunt heads, small ears, and rough dark fur with a lighter underbelly. Both rats and mice have long, thin tails and make pellet-like droppings everywhere they go.

ARE RATS AND MICE DANGEROUS?

Rats and mice can be very dangerous to people and extremely destructive to property. Both carry harmful diseases such as Hantavirus, Dysentery, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, and Salmonellosis. They can also contaminate food as they chew into food boxes or bags and leave feces and urine everywhere. They chew through almost everything including furniture, drywall, rubber, insulation, plastic pipes, aluminum, and sometimes even gas or wire lines. If they chew through wire lines, the chance of a fire starting increases. If they chew through a gas line causing a leak, there is a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. They build nests in holes which can be found in cabinets, drawers, pantries, and other areas not regularly checked. The damage that is caused by these pests can be extensive and very costly to fix. If you find a nest or are having other rodent problems, you should immediately call one of our professionals to come and deal with them.

WHY DO I HAVE A RODENT PROBLEM?

Having a rodent problem can mean a few things, but more than likely if they are inside your home that is because there is an entry that they are getting in through. Rodents are nocturnal and can chew through a lot of different materials. This allows them to get into structures through small entries. Oftentimes they will end up in the attic, garage, and of course inside the home.

HOW TO GET RID OF A RODENT PROBLEM?

Getting rid of a rodent problem comes in two parts. First and foremost an inspection needs to be done to identify how they might be getting into your home. After entry points have been discovered, they need to be eliminated— the second part. This comes through trapping and baiting for population and overall control of the rodents. After this has been done, continuing to check for new entry points is key to maintain a rodent-free home.

Do-it-yourself approach for rodent control can get out of hand very quickly and very rarely work in an efficient, timely manner. Recon Pest Services has highly qualified and trained technicians that are willing and ready to get down to business for you. Give us a call and allow us to take this off your shoulders.