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Rodents

What are Rodents?

Rodents are warm blooded mammals that can be found all over the world. They typically have over-sized front teeth for gnawing and check teeth which are adapting for chewing. Two types of rodents you will encounter are mice and rats. Under the mice category a very common mice you will find in New York is the House Mice. For rats there are two in New York that are very common and they are the  Norway Rat and Roof Rat. 

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The House Mice breed rapidly and can adapt quickly to changing conditions. Female house mouse can give birth to half dozen babies every three weeks and can produce up to 35 young per year.  The house mice have a dusty gray with cream belly color and can vary in fur color from light brown to dark gray. Their size can vary anywhere between 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches long. 

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The Norway Rat also known as the street or sewer rat typically have fairly poor vision and are colorblind. They have brown with scattered black hair; gray to white underside. They have long, heavily bodied shape and can vary anywhere between 7 - 9 1/2 inches long. 

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The Roof Rat is similar as the Norway rat only much larger in size. These rats are often referred to as black rats or ship rats. They have brown with black intermixed fur and gray, white or black underside. They're shaped long and thin with scaly tail and can be as long as 16 inches total (their body can vary anywhere between 6-8 inches long with a 6-8 inches long tail).

How Did I Get Rodents?

House mice enters a home through crack and holes found in walls, floors and foundations. Typically homeowners are unable to recognize mouse holes until an infestation has occurred. They may also enter the home through gapes in windows or ceilings and cluttered attics and basements. 

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Norway Rats often find their way into homes by digging. Specifically older buildings that encountered poor construction and maintenance have a much higher risk of rat problems. These rats specifically are attracted to gardens, uncut grass and thick shrubs. Gaps and crevices  with a hole as small as 1/2 inches can give these rats a higher risk of getting in.  Some common entryways are: 

  • Gaps under doors

  • Holes from utility and plumbing lines 

  • Poorly fitting crawlspace doors

  • Poorly maintained wall and foundation vents

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Roof Rats can fit into all types of holes that are as small as 1/2 inch. These rats in particular can climb on power lines and tree branches to get into the roofs. These rats can reach into almost any area of a home which creates a problem for homeowners. Some common ways for rodents to enter a home are:

  • Damaged vent covers

  • Squeezing through cracks

  • Chewing entry holes

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Inspection & Treatment

Rodents overall are unwanted pests you don't want in your home. Looking out for signs of an infestation is key to begin the process of treatment. Mice are nocturnal creatures, which means they are hidden during the day and search for food from evening till early morning. Some common signs are:

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  • Droppings - mice typically eject anywhere between 50-80 droppings a night. These are small and dark that are within 3-8 mm length. These are found scattered randomly often found on cabinet tops or floorboards.

  • Grease Marks - this is caused by their bodies brushing against walls, floors and floorboards. These are dark smears around holes and corners.

  • Scratching Noises - it is important to listen for noises between walls, under floorboards and ceilings. At night mice are most active which means this is the time you will hear them the most. 

  • Nests - Mice will use easy to shred and soft materials to create a nest. Checking your cavity walls, under floorboards, behind fridges and under stoves are important to see if mice are nesting.

  • Living or dead mice - this is a clear sign of heavy infestation if found during the day. 

  • Strong Smell - the urination of mice has an ammonia like smell. The stronger the smell the closer you are to mice activity. This smell can also linger for a very long time even if your infestation has been removed. 

 

Some areas you can check to see if mice are in your home are:

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  • Lofts, attics and eaves

  • Kitchens and laundry rooms

  • Basement and cellars

  • Cavity walls

 

Similar to mice, Norway and Roof Rats are also nocturnal creatures. Some common signs are:

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  • Droppings - Norway rats typically eject anywhere between 40-50 droppings per day. Even a small infestation of these rats can produce thousands of droppings in a short period of time. These are dark that are 3/4 inch in length and blunt in both ends. Roof rat's droppings are 12 - 13 mm in length.

  • Gnaw Marks- recent gnawing is a great sign for Norway rats. These rats tend to gnaw on wooden structures these include corners, floorboards and wall studs. When a Norway rat gnaw holes they measure around 2 inches in diameter and often have a rough, torn edge.

  • Strong Smell - these rats tend to have a strong musty odor. A great way to also determine if this is a rat sign is by your own pets. Cats and dogs will sniff excitedly where rats and mice are present. 

  • Grease Marks - this is caused by their bodies brushing against walls, floors and floorboards. These are dark smears around holes and corners.

  • Living or dead rats- If both roof and Norway rats are exposed this indicates that their hiding spaces are all filled by other rats. Indoor nests can be found in insulated areas including attics. 

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Some areas you can find both Norway and Roof rats are:

  • Attics

  • Buildings 

  • Houses

  • Garage storage spaces

  • Piles of wood

  • Rafters

  • Roofs 

  • Trees

  • Wall Voids

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Pest2Kill Exterminating Company, will inspect and create a thorough pest control plan to help eliminate these filthy rodents. Both effective chemical and non-chemical methods can be applied during your service visit. Some of the many different options we provide is sealing off all potential sites that may allow and mice or rat to enter, pre-baited stations that can trap and kill the mice and/or rat and traps within your treatment plan to help remove or kill the mice/rat. Call us today to set up a custom plan just for you!

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Mice Droppings

Prevention

Prevention is key when avoiding mice and rats in your home. There are a number of different ways to prevent them from entering. Here are some helpful tips to avoid them:​

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  1. Sealing all cracks, crevices, holes and gaps can help prevent rodents from entering your home.

  2. Cleanliness is important in any home or business. Be sure to wash dishes immediately after use. Food should always be stored in glass or metal containers with tight lids. Rodents tend to gain their water through food particles. 

  3. Blocking entryways such as windows and doors should always be left closed. Rodents especially are very active overnight, leaving windows and doors open during this time frame will give you a higher risk of rats entering your home. 

  4. Clean up loose vegetation that could be found outdoors.

  5. Trimming back bushes, trees and tall grass that intrude on the property.

  6. Remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks that are near the foundation of the home. This attracts rodents and once there is a easy step for rodents to enter they will. 

  7. Installing a thick weather stripping on the bottom of all doors to prevent rodents from entering in.  

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Call Pest2Kill Exterminating today to set up a custom plan just for you and help eliminate your rodent problem! Don't wait until your rodent problem becomes bigger than you expected!

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