Overview:
This blog is a quick introduction to dealing with an infestation of rodents. As with all pests, it’s important to understand the importance of proper treatment and maintenance, in order to get rid of and keep pests out of your space.
Facts about Rodents:
House mice most commonly live near people. They will be found in or around residential areas where people are most active. House mice should be addressed immediately because they often carry diseases and will contaminate food through droppings and urine.
Even though rats are more harmful to humans than mice are, it does not make mice any less of a problem for humans. Mice and rats may cause damage to personal and household items, gnawing through walls and wires in the home. Mice may live alone but are more commonly found living in large groups. A mouse 's average lifespan is one year long when they have access to all their needs. It is not hard for them to gain access to food, water, and shelter once they make their way inside a building.
Female mice will reach breeding age by around 6 weeks old, while the males reach their breeding age at about 8 weeks old. They have a short gestation period of about 18-21 days. Each of the litters can have between 3-14 pups (this is how we refer to mouse babies). Each individual female mouse can produce anywhere between 5 to 10 litters each year. This means that one female mouse can have 15-140 pups in their one year of life. Seeing one mouse could mean that there are hundreds in a nest nearby.
When you spot a rat, it is most likely a roof rat or Norway rat, which can weigh anywhere from 5 to 18 ounces. These rats are all excellent scavengers and can start a well-hidden nest under a variety of conditions. Norway rats can give birth to about 50-60 young a year. Rats are typically nocturnal but may appear in the day if there is a lot of competition for food.
How can I tell the difference between mice and rats?
It is important to identify the difference between rats and mice as they require different methods of treatment and have different behavioral habits. It is good to know that mice and rats will not be found living together as rats will attack mice. Rats will do this to gain exclusive access to the things they require to survive. However, you can have both living in the same place if they are living in different levels of the building, such as rats in the basement and mice in the attic.
The house mouse is about 5.5 to 7.5 inches long with its tail being over half of its length. The house mouse weighs about .5 oz - 1 oz. Rats are almost twice the size, with its body being longer than its tail and having more visible legs. They are much heavier than mice. These are only a few of the difference between the two groups.
Both mice and rats can be found living across the United States. If you have, or suspect you have, a rodent issue, please contact us at A-Z Environments. We will work with you to get these pests out of your space in the least disruptive way possible.