Mice Rats And Rodents

Many household pests can make your home unsafe. Therefore, you can’t overlook such problems. Doing so will put your loved ones at risk. One of the worst pests you’ll encounter is rodents. These pests are dangerous and destructive. When they invade a residence, they’re going to spread illnesses and chew holes in walls. Once you notice rodents in your residence, you need to begin taking steps to identify the pest and deal with them. Certain species are more common in Norfolk than others. Below, you’ll learn more about common rodent species in our area.

Common Mouse Species In Norfolk

You’re going to encounter a handful of mouse species in Norfolk. House mice are very common in our area. These rodents are small and mostly hairless. They have a pointed nose, large ears, and protruding eyes. In terms of color, house mice can be black or light brown. Their bellies are gray or buff. When they leave droppings in your home, you’ll notice that the droppings are black and musty. Besides house mice, deer mice are also common in our area. Deer mice are bi-colored because they are white and brown. Their upper back region and head are black. As for their bellies and undersides, they’re white.

Their tails are incredibly long. In some cases, their tails are longer than their bodies and heads combined. You’ll also notice that their tails are multi-colored. A deer mouse’s droppings will be smooth and black with points on the ends.

Common Rat Species In Norfolk

Although Norfolk is home to other rat species, the most common are Norway rats and roof rats. One thing to note about these rodents is the fact that they’re commensal. As a result, they’re going to invade residences so they can rely on humans for their survival. They’ll eat your food and drink your water. Plus, your house gives them excellent shelter. Norway rats are generally larger than roof rats but the difference is not dramatic. These rodents can grow up to 9 inches in length. They have shaggy hair and blunt noses. On average, Norway rats have tails that grow up to 8 inches in length. At the minimum, their tails are only 6 inches.

When they leave droppings around your home, they’re going to be three-quarters of an inch in length. Roof rats are unique because they prefer living in the upper sections of homes. They’ll live in attics and grow up to 8 inches in length. Although they’re sometimes smaller than Norway rats, their tails tend to be much longer. Their droppings are smaller with most of them being half an inch in length.

Common Signs Of Rodent Infestations

It is wise to learn how to identify a rodent infestation. Once you’ve learned about their common signs, you’ll be able to identify the problem before it worsens. Below, you’ll find out how to identify rodent infestations.

• Rodents will leave droppings in the homes they invade. Most rodent droppings are found near breeding and nesting sites.
• It is common for rodents to build nests in residential dwellings. They’ll use household items, grass, and sticks to build nests.
• They’re going to chew on your food contains, baseboards, and drywall. Look for signs of damage because it could be rodents.
• Rodents can be loud at night. You’ll hear them running through your home when you wake up in the middle of the night.

More About Rodent Droppings

One of the easiest ways to identify an infestation in your home is by looking for rodent droppings. If you can find rodent droppings in your home, you’ll know that you have a problem. Rodent droppings are black with most of them ranging in length from 3 to 6mm. Droppings are granular and resemble a piece of rice. Rodents will leave droppings anywhere in the home, but they’re commonly found around feeding and breeding sites. Their droppings have a musty odor.

Reasons For Rodent Invasions

Rodents are going to invade residential dwellings for several reasons. First and foremost, rodents want to sneak into your home because it is going to provide them with everything they need to survive. Your home has plenty of food and water. Therefore, rodents can find everything they need in your dwelling. Rodents are commensal so they thrive by living with humans. Although they can grow up to 9 or 10 inches, most can sneak through small gaps and cracks. They’ll sometimes enter a home through unexpected spots. If they want to enter your home and you don’t stop them, they’ll find a way to get inside.

The Health Risks Involved

Rodent infestations come with many health hazards. It is pertinent to wipe out the rodent infestation in your home before someone gets seriously ill. Unfortunately, rodents can carry a handful of serious illnesses, including Lassa Fever, Hemorrhagic Fever, Plague, Rat-Bite Fever, and more. They’re going to leave urine and feces around your home. If this isn’t taken care of quickly, there is a risk that these pests are going to contaminate your food and make someone deathly ill. Another problem associated with mice is the fact that they’re going to carry ticks and fleas. If you have pets, this could create a major issue for them. A severe flea infestation could kill your pet so it is best to keep rodents out of your home.

Rodents can be destructive as well. They often chew on objects in residences because they need to stop their teeth from growing too large. They’ll chew on furniture, insulation, and other materials. They can also chew through electrical cables. Suffice to say, rodents can cause an electrical fire in your home.

Rodent Infestation Dangerous

• Rodents will contaminate food and surfaces by leaving urine and feces in your home
• These pests can spread serious illnesses including Hantavirus and Plague
• Rats and rodents carry ticks and fleas
• They can seriously damage your home
• They’ll chew through electrical wires so the risk of a house fire will be much higher

Eliminating Rodents From Your Home

It is pertinent to find a way to get rid of the rodents in your home as swiftly as possible. If you can do this, you’ll be able to move past this roadblock. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy. Rodents are hard to handle because they’re big and disgusting. You likely don’t want to physically handle the pest. If this is the case, it is best to let a professional handle it. Our company has the tools needed to tackle the problem while keeping everyone safe. We’re confident we can fix the problem while protecting you and your loved ones. Contact us to learn more about the steps we take to protect you.

When Can You Get Here?

When you are ready to fix the problem, contact our office. Someone will call you within 24 to 48 hours. Then, we’ll send someone to your home for a full inspection.

We Offer The Safest Solutions

Rodents need to be dealt with promptly, but you shouldn’t use unsafe methods. We understand this wholeheartedly and want to do everything we can to help. When you work with us, you can sleep soundly knowing you’re going to be protected throughout the ordeal. We always use products that protect our clients, their pets, and their plants. The EPA-registered products we use are safe for everyone involved. We will put your safety first and ensure that you’re protected every step of the way.

Avoiding Future Rodent Infestations

Dealing with a rodent infestation will not be easy. These pests are difficult to handle because they’re large and nasty. Plus, they’re elusive. When a rodent scurries across your floor, you’ll likely want to jump onto your chair and protect yourself. With this in mind, it is pertinent to keep them out of your home in the first place. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by taking advantage of rodent-proofing products. Start by taking advantage of pest-proofing products. These products can help protect your home from invaders. You’ll be able to use them to properly seal your home so rodents cannot find a way to invade. Seal holes of all sizes because rodents will use them to invade. You’ll also want to properly mow your yard.

Make sure that your grass is cut low so rodents won’t find a place to hide around your property. Once these pests sneak inside, they’re going to start searching for food. Store your food products in durable containers to starve them and force them to leave.

• Make sure that your exterior walls are properly sealed. Use pest-proofing products to keep them out.
• Don’t forget to take your trash out. Try taking your trash out several times each day.
• Food in your home must be stored in durable, tough containers.
• Keep your grass cut low.
• Clean up spills and messes immediately.

Once rodents have entered your home, don’t delay contacting our office. We’ll work hard to find a solution to the problem and administer it right away.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.