Rodent Identification & Prevention

Rodents are one of the most problematic pests to have running around your home due to their prolific nature, adaptability, and their habit of hiding in hard-to-reach areas. In our area, the most common types of rodents that you will need to worry about encountering include mice and rats.

Mice are smaller and have gray or brown fur, while rats are larger and will have dark brown fur or black fur depending on their species. Both types of rodents create serious issues when they invade your property, and leaving infestations untreated may result in both health and safety risks.

Rodent infestations are dangerous due to the number of diseases that rats and mice carry. As these pests invade your property and scavenge across food storage and preparation areas, live between the walls, and infiltrate ventilation spaces, they bring with them bacteria and pathogens that may cause illnesses such as tularemia, listeriosis, and salmonellosis.

Additionally, all rodents have a pair of constantly growing front teeth that they use to gnaw items around your property. Over time, these gnawing activities result in major damage to your property and can interfere with utility or electrical lines, something that leads to safety issues. 

Rodent droppings and urine may also soil items around your home, leaving you with contamination issues and a loss of property.

Rodents are generally opportunistic, and if you find that a rodent problem is occurring on your property, these pests likely moved in as they pursued food, water, or shelter. Factors that attract rodents include open trash cans and compost piles, access to pet food, cracks around your property that let rodents inside, and moisture issues that create puddles of excess water. Removing these factors often helps to deter infestations.

Rodents prefer to hide in dark and secluded places, nesting around interior or exterior areas during the day and then scavenging for food at nighttime. Outdoors, you may find rodents around trash cans, compost piles, and debris or woodpiles. Indoors, rodents hide in the backs of cupboards, in pantry areas and kitchens, in basements, attics, or garages, or in ventilation areas and the space between walls.

Get rid of rodents in the safest and most effective way possible by contacting The PEST Group at the first signs of rats or mice on your property. Our team of pest management professionals is dedicated to identifying your major rodent problem areas and eliminating all traces of this pest from your property.

Contact us today for a free inspection or more information about our rodent control solutions.

Prevent rodents in the future by following our expert tips to deter infestations of this unhygienic pest:

• Keep outdoor trash cans covered with tight-fitting lids, and always dispose of trash promptly in tightly sealed bags to prevent rodent scavenging.

• Remove access to compost piles and outdoor pet food when not in use to stop hungry rodents from accessing these areas.

• Seal cracks around your property’s foundation, use window and door screens, and install weatherstripping to rodent-proof interior areas.

• Address moisture issues that might be creating puddles of water or humid conditions that attract rodents.

• Always store leftover food properly and clean out pantries often in addition to cleaning up food and drink spills quickly to stop the aroma from attracting rodents.

Reach out to The PEST Group today for more prevention advice or reliable rodent control near you.