Rodents are clever, curious, dextrous, and skilled at causing property damage. They are also playful, charming, dirty, and riddled with diseases, parasites, fleas, and yuck. These fascinating creatures are fun to study, but not when they are on your property. It’s just a matter of time before they move indoors with you! Understanding rodent behavior informs successful rodent prevention practices and helps you to identify signs of a rodent infestation.
Rodent Identification
Why should you care about rodent identification? The pest control services teams at Mosquito Joe® are experts on the many critters they control, and it’s critical for effective rodent control. Did you know that black rats love peanut butter, but brown rats prefer smelly cheese? Knowing your quarry lets you choose the right bait.
Mice
Mice are small rodents with a body length ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 inches and a scaly, furr-less tail measuring 2.75 to 4 inches. They may be brown, gray, or white, have large ears, and weigh up to one ounce.
Rats
Adult rats reach a body length of 9 to 11 inches, with a smooth, bare tail of 7 to 9 inches. They can be white, gray, brown, or black, with small ears, and weigh up to 1.4 pounds.
Another way rodent identification is important when setting traps is that mice are more inquisitive than rats and happy to explore new things in their environment. Rats are more cautious and more likely to outwit traps.
Signs of a Rodent Infestation
Of course, seeing the beady eyes staring at you and the long, naked tail when a rodent scurries away is the clearest sign you have a rodent problem. Hopefully, you’ll notice other signs of a rodent infestation outdoors first:
Droppings
Rodent droppings look like small grains of rice in a black or brown color. You may smell a stale ammonia odor. You’re most likely to spot mice and rat droppings near their burrows or along the pathways they use to find food or water.
Gnaw Marks
Gnaw marks on fence posts, outdoor furniture, plants, extension cords, and trellises are a clear sign of a rodent infestation.
Fun fact: Rats’ teeth grow constantly throughout their lives. They must continue gnawing and chewing constantly to keep the teeth from growing into their brains! They are such accomplished gnawers that rats can chew through glass, soft metals, cinderblock, and improperly cured concrete.
Nests
Different rodents build different types of nests from soft materials like leaves, discarded weeds, shredded fabric, twine, cardboard, twigs, and soil. You may notice droppings around the round opening to the nest.
Rodent Prevention Strategies
Rodents are extraordinarily adept at making a living in proximity to human activity. They come onto our property and then into our homes seeking food, water, and shelter. Effective rodent control measures deny the critters the habitat they crave, so they go elsewhere. It is critical to remove rodents from your outdoor property before they move inside. Once they come indoors, the health risks to your family are far higher, and you’ll battle the fleas they carry as well as the rodents themselves.
Seal It Up: Don’t Let Rodents Find a Way Inside
Scrutinize your fences and walls from top to bottom, sealing any chinks or holes with caulk. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a pencil, while full-grown rats can use holes the size of a quarter. Repair torn screens and replace bent window frames to help keep them outside.
Food Lockdown: Avoid Feeding Rodents Accidentally
Human garbage, rotting fruit and veggies, spilled birdseed, and scattered pet food offer rodents a smorgasbord. No wonder they won’t leave! Seal your trash cans, empty them frequently, and keep them clean. Store all food in air-tight containers, and promptly wipe up spills. Temporarily suspend feeding the birds, clean up spilled seed, and store feed securely. Never feed pets outdoors.
Going Dry: Don’t Provide Water For Rodents
Repair all leaky faucets and sprinklers. Get rid of all potential sources of standing water, and clean out the gutters and downspouts to remove any handy watering holes.
Yard Cleanup: Take Away Rodent Shelter
Harvest fruits and veggies promptly, discarding any that fall or rot. Mow your grass short, trim back shrubs, vines, and trees, keeping all foliage away from the house — mice and rats use limbs and vines to reach your roof. Use large, chunky mulch rather than finely shredded materials rodents love for their bedding. Clean up clutter that provides shelter or hiding places.
Dealing With A Rodent Infestation
Our tips above are more effective at rodent prevention than removal. Once you see the signs of a rodent infestation on your property, you’ll need to take more direct action to keep them from moving indoors.
DIY Tactics
There are several ways you can combat a rodent infestation yourself. Snap traps designed with a spring-loaded bar to catch rodents are highly effective. They also require frequent handling to remove the dead rodent (ewww) and reset. Use gloves and tongs. Remember that the rodent’s body and fluids contain many diseases, parasites, and fleas.
Essential oils, such as peppermint, lemon, citronella, or eucalyptus, can make an effective rodent repellent. Add two teaspoons of the oil to a cup of water, shake well, and spray where you see signs of rodent activity.
When to Call a Pro To Combat Rodents
If your signs of rodent infestation have become billboards, or your DIY rodent prevention is just not enough, call in rodent control professionals. If a family member’s health is compromised, getting rid of the rodents quickly and efficiently is critical.
What Exterminators Do Get Rid of Rodents
Professional rodent exterminators use various methods to rid your property of rodents. At Mosquito Joe, our service professionals use bait to lure rodents to humane traps so we can remove them from your property. We do not enter your home, and we use no toxic chemicals or poisons that could harm other wildlife or leave dead or dying rodents on your property. Finally, we treat your property with rodent repellent at strategic points to prevent local populations from moving back in.
Know the Risks and Exercise Caution When Dealing With Rodents
Make no mistake — signs of a rodent infestation are a serious health hazard.
Disease Risks
Hantavirus causes a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease. The most common way humans contract this virus is by breathing in dust contaminated with a rodent’s saliva, urine, feces, or nesting materials (sorry, but this is important). The virus can be transmitted through contact or through the air. Activities like sweeping or vacuuming up rodent bedding can aerosolize particles from their disturbed waste, making cleanup of rodent infestations hazardous. Even dead rodents are dangerous because of the diseases they carry.
Secure Trapping
Place the traps in the runways the rodents use and bait them with peanut butter. Then, hope that innocent wildlife or pets don’t find the traps first with tragic results. But hoping is not enough. It is best to place the snap trap inside a closed box with a small opening for the rodent to access. Keep children and pets well away from the traps. Wear gloves and use tongs when handling dead rodents. Place them in a plastic bag and tie it tightly. Discard in the trash and wash your hands well!
Repellent Caution
We understand how attractive some DIY solutions are. But when it comes to pest control, DIY can be a terrible idea. If the repellant doesn’t work, relying on it lets the infestation grow. Remember that some essential oils and other ingredients can be harmful to pets and wildlife.
If you see signs of a rodent infestation on your property, call the experts at Mosquito Joe to get rid of the critters. You can count on being pleased with our services because the Neighborly Done Right Promise® and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back everything we do. Request a free quote today!
