Rodents can be destructive to your property and can transmit disease pathogens. Some of them reproduce quickly and can cause major problems if not dealt with. If you see signs of rodents (droppings, chew or claw marks, etc) we highly encourage you to deal with the problem immediately so the problem doesn’t become worse. Most rodents can be eliminated by using traps, poison bait and exclusion. We don’t always have to use poison bait if we can safely trap the animal. We are extremely experienced at trapping various animals. Below is a list of rodents to help you identify what you are dealing with along with links to wikipedia for more information.
MICE –
Mice are small rodents having a pointy nose, small round ears and a tail about as long as their body. Because they are prey to many different animals they are able to adapt to almost any environment and are known for invading homes for food, water and shelter. Mice can reproduce quickly and destroy your property as well as spreading diseases through their parasites and feces. Mice are nocturnal and have poor eyesight. they rely on their sense of smell heavily. Mice reproduce quickly with an average litter size of about 6 mice. They can have 5-10 litters per year. Sanitation and exclusion are the best ways to prevent mice from coming into your home but be aware that mice can fit through a hole as small as a dime.
Roof Rat-
Appropriately named because they are climbers and like to hide under your roof in the attic or above ground. Also known as the Black Rat. They are dark brown to black and measure 13″-18″ including tail. The easiest way to tell besides finding them above ground is that they have a longer tail and thinner body than the Norway Rat. One of the best ways to protect your home from the roof rat is to make sure your trees and shrubs are pruned away from the roof. Roof rats are able to jump 4 feet horizontally.
Norway Rat-
also known as the Brown Rat, it is most common and successful mammal on the planet besides humans. It lives on every continent except Antartica. Their bodies are brown or grey with a body up to 10″ long and a tail that is shorter than its body. These rats are not climbers, so they are more likely to hide in your garage or burrow near the foundation, or in the garden or rubbish piles. Norway rats are nocturnal and can swim. They have very good hearing and sense of smell and they are also very weary of change so they can be more difficult to trap than mice. They can cary a number of diseases which is the main reason that we must eliminate them from our living spaces. Exclusion methods are to close up or block any small holes or entry points.
Here is a helpful chart to tell the difference between the Roof Rat and Norway Rat
Moles-
Moles are subterranean mammals found in most parts of North America as well as Asia and Europe. They are more of an agricultural pest because they disturb the soil and damage draining systems. They can indirectly cause damage to plant roots, but they do not eat the roots. They are pests to homeowners because they can tunnel into your yard, dig up hills and their tunnels or galleries could collapse leaving unsightly furrows. Our best results for elimination have been trapping at the site of the tunnels.
Gophers-
Gophers (aka Pocket Gophers) are burrowing rodents found in North and Central America easily identified by their very long sharp front teeth. They are 6-8 inches in length with a 1-2 inch tail. Males are significantly larger than females. They are rarely seen above ground, but they do create mounds of loose dirt at the entrances to their burrows. They love to burrow in moist soil found in lawns, vegetable and flower gardens. They eat earthworms grubs plant roots carrots, lettuce, radishes and other vegetables. When threatened, they will usually retreat into their burrows, but have been known to attack cats and humans and inflict serious bites with their long sharp teeth and claws. For gophers, we recommend trapping at the site of the tunnels.
Ground Squirrels–
Ground Squirrels are burrowing rodents that generally live on or in the ground rather than in trees. They are about 12 inches long with about a 6 inch tail. The feed off ornamental plants and trees and also eat insects and various fruits. They are a pest in gardens and parks because of their diet as well as burrowing holes. They can be very creative in finding ways to access bird seed in feeders. Squirrels cary many diseases including the plague. For squirrels, we recommend trapping and depending on the season, poison bait and exclusion.