Have a Rodent Problem?

February 16th, 2016

Mice and rats are quick and quiet, allowing them to sneak into homes without being noticed. But nobody wants a mouse as a bedmate, especially since they contaminate everything with their urine, droppings, and hairs. Rodents can even carry diseases like rabies and bubonic plague!  These signs and steps will help you find and eliminate any rodents currently using your home for shelter.

Common Household Rodents

The Norway rats are most common in Florida along the sea coasts and canals, especially in areas of exposed garbage. They’re resilient rodents that can survive on only one ounce of garbage or decayed food a day. Norway rats can be identified by their reddish-brown and heavy-set appearance.

Roof rats, on the other hand, favor attics and palm trees because they like to nest off the ground. They can be black, gray, or tan in color. House mice are different because the live in fields but often migrate into homes to live behind walls or in cabinets and furniture.

Signs of Rodent Infiltration

Rodents are most active at night, so it’s hard to notice them during the day. Instead, search for these indicators.

Droppings and urine are the easiest to recognize. Old droppings will crumble into gray dust, while fresh droppings are black and puttylike. Since rodents urinate while running, the urine streaks are easy to recognize. Gnawed objects are also a giveaway of a rodent problem. Look for teeth marks on food, wire, and edges of beams. It’s even possible you will find holes in wooden walls or posts.

How to Get Rid of Rodents

The best way to eliminate rodents is to call in a pest professional, rather than experimenting on your own and risking your family’s health if your plan doesn’t work.

A pest expert is familiar with the different types of traps and rodent capture methods. From something simple like a snap trap to more sophisticated measures such as electromagnetic interference to drive rats and mice out of the house, a pest expert can handle it.

Prevention is also key to ensure the problem doesn’t occur again soon, and your pest company can walk you through various prevention tools such as closing off easy access areas, trimming plants that hug the house, and carefully protecting trashcans.