Description:
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing.
Forty percent of all mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, gerbils, porcupines, beavers and
chipmunks.
Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and spreading disease.
The most common of the rodents is the mouse. Their bodies can weigh between 11 and 22 grams, depending on the type of mouse. Mice are also amazing climbers and their color is usually grayish brown, with some species having white markings.
Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size; rats are generally large muroid rodents, while mice are generally small muroid rodents. The muroid family is very large and complex, and the common terms rat and mouse are not taxonomically specific.
Damage/Illness caused by Rodents:
Rodents, in particular mice, can be harmful by causing structural damge to buildings, as well as chewing electrical wires and tearing insulation in walls and ceilings.
Rodents can also carriers for spreading disease through parasites and their feces. Breathing dust that has come in contact with rodent excrement has been linked to hantavirus which may lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
The most common rodents that live in close proximity to humans in the United States are Norway rats, roof rats, house mice and deer mice.
Method of removal:
- An inspection of the interior and exterior of the home is done first, to determine extent of problem.
- This is to find out why the rodents are there and to see how the rodents are getting into the home. This is also to find out how the rodents move within the house and what are the contributing factors, like holes or gaps that allow entry or too much vegetation close to the house.
- Once the cause of the rodent problem has been determined, we can devise a plan that will control the rodents. This can include trapping, exterior baiting, exterior exclusion work, as well as interior exclusion work. The predetermined plan may use 1 or all of these techniques.
- A quarterly service works very well to control the rodent problem, which will involve checking and refilling exterior bait stations and checking any select interior locations that may have traps.
- Depending on severity of problem one could expect the following: Inspection of home, setup of trap and bait stations, exclusion work, and once problem is under control a quarterly service schedule to properly maintain the rodent problem.
- As a note, there will always be rodent pressure from outside and the best we hope to do is to control the problem.
The Eliminator Pest Control Service is able to help you with your rodent problem. We have worked with many homes where mice or other rodents have entered the home. We have been able to provide homeowners with a satisfactory solution for the “mice in the house” problem.
