Mice And Rodents

When most people think of mice and rodents, they tend to think of them as the same creatures. They put them into the same classification or categories. While this can be harmless in some situations, it can cause major problems in others. Not knowing exactly what you are dealing with can hire dire consequences. In Louisville, there are usually two types of mouse species that commonly invade homes. This would be the house and the deer mouse.

The house mouse is usually a smaller rodent, nearly hairless with a slightly pointed black nose. The eyes and large ears can, on the other hand, be very protruding. As far as color goes, these creatures usually vary from light brown to black and normally have a gray belly or buff bellies. One way to detect these critters is by their droppings. Their droppings are usually black in color and produce a musty smell. The deer mouse, on the other hand, is a bit different, as it is bi-colored, meaning it can be two-colored. Some have white feet coupled with white undersides and brownish upper backs. Their heads are usually the same color as their backs.

Detecting The Signs Of An Infestation

Mice might be some of the smaller critters on the rodent scale, but their size is nothing comparable to the damage they can do. They can do instrumental amounts of damage to a home or building. Just ask anyone that has ever dealt with a major infestation. Even a small infestation can add up. This is why it is best and most cost-effective to learn to detect an infestation early on before the problem becomes a major one. The most effective way to do just that is by learning to interrupt the signs. Signs like:

• Dropping in, near, and around the home
• Rodent nests, which are usually constructed of household materials or common debris like newspaper, twigs, and even grass clippings
• Look for gnaw marks on structures of the home, food items, and exposed electrical wires
• Listen for little feet scurrying over and through the walls during the night. Yes, you’ll be able to hear them

Back To The Droppings

Going back to the droppings, this is one of the best ways to determine if you are dealing with a rodent problem. Droppings will not only tell you that you are dealing with a rodent problem, but they could tell you what type of rodent you are dealing with. That being said, the droppings of a common house rodent are quite obvious and easily spotted. They are normally black in color and range anywhere from three to six millimeters long with a granular shape. The most common item that you can compare these items to rice. The best place to look for droppings is near breeding and nesting areas, although droppings can sometimes be found where the critters feed.

What Makes Mice Appear In A Home Or Building?

This is the first thing most home and building owners ask when they discover they have mice infestation. Why do I have mice? My building isn’t cluttered! It’s immaculate! Why do I still have mice? Well, the first thing you have to understand about mice is, they are commensal. What does this mean? It means that they have similar habits to that of humans.

When rodents infiltrate homes and buildings, they have one thing on their minds. One rodent may infiltrate a home in search of food, while another rodent will be searching for an overwintering hiding place.

How Dangerous Are Mice?

Unfortunately, there is a load of dangers associated with mice. Not only are these troublesome critters destructive to a structure, but they pose just as big a physical threat. They’ll leave behind feces and urine along with spreading diseases and damaging your structure. Some of the most known common diseases these critters spread are Hantavirus, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, Lassa Fever, Leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, plague, and rat-bite fever.

In addition to this, these rodents can spread fleas and ticks to common household pets. With all this in mind, just imagine they’ll damages they pose if they get into your food items. The dangers of a rodent infestation include the following:

• Surface and food contamination due to feces and urine
• Unwanted spreading of diseases
• Major structural damage to the home or building as a result of gnawing and nesting
• Major risks of electrical fires and shortages

How To Eliminate Mice

Mice are survivors, give that they are constantly looking to survive. This is probably why they found their way into your structure. What’s even more trouble is, these critters can survive under a variety of conditions. Conditions that might cause other critters to go extinct. They are excellent climbers, can run on vertical and horizontal surfaces, can walk on wires and cables, and are very aware of their surroundings. They’ll go around mousetraps rather than walk right through them. Mice are smarter and more aware than people give them credit for.

Our professional mice control is the most effective extermination strategy available to local consumers. We combine high-quality adhesive traps with mice toxins to ensure the speediest outcome, without compromising the customer’s assets or health.

How Soon Can You Expect Help?

It really depends on the time of year and company you are contacting, but most pest management professionals are pretty good at responding to their customer’s needs. This is especially true in Louisville. When contacting these professionals, you can expect someone to show up at the home or office within the next 24 to 48 hours. At the very least, they’ll be giving you a call.

Is Rodent Treatment Safe?

You’ll find that Louisville pest management professionals today offer a wide range of treatments. And, just like everything else in life, results are going to vary in each unique situation. Some people might have more luck with one particular treatment when others might have better results in different situations. This doesn’t necessarily make one treatment better than the other. It just made it better in that specific situation. Today’s professionals like to utilize natural baits and traps whenever possible. These pest control products are safe when administered per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Prevention Is The Best Tactic

As with any critter or pest management solution, prevention is the best course of action. It’s always best to prevent an infestation before it starts. Of course, this is always much easier said than done, especially when it comes to rodents and critters like mice. This doesn’t mean it’s entirely impossible. Speak with any Louisville pest management professional and he or she will likely recommend starting with rodent-proofing. Placing rodent-proof materials on doorways and around the exterior of the structure where these critters are likely to enter. Of course, you’ll have to know where they are likely to enter.

• Seal off all openings on the outside of the home, including the smallest of cracks, crevices, and openings
• Take the trash out on a regular basis while keeping it stored in bins with air-tight lids
• All food should be stored in similar storage containers
• Spills crumbs and loose waste should be exposed immediately

What Are Rats?

The most common rat species you’ll deal with in Louisville are the roof rats and Norway rats. Like the mice, these critters are commensal rodents, meaning they similar traits to that of humans. It has even been said that these critters benefit from a human-rodent relationship. Amongst the two common species, it is the Norway rat that is the larger of the two. Only slightly larger, but larger nonetheless. Here are some other characteristics commonly associated with the Norway rat:

• They have a body length of 7 to 9 inches
• Their coats are coarse and shaggy while being brown in color
• Their noses are blunt in shape
• Tails can be anywhere from 6 to 8 inches in length
• Droppings are blunt-ended and capsule-shaped

Some of the symptoms of a Norway rat infestation are droppings, gnaw marks, burrows, tracks, and rub or grease marks. Roof rats are a bit different on the other hand, and learning to differentiate between the two will be essential to successfully eliminating an infestation problem.

• Roof rats are 6 to 8 inches in length
• Their fur is normally smooth brown
• They have pointed noses
• Their tails measure in at 7 to 10 inches
• Droppings are usually ½” long with pointed or sharp ends

Do Rats Pose Threats?

You learned that mice are dangerous. Mentally, physically, and environmentally. Unfortunately, rats are similar in their threat. They are known for carrying and contracting many diseases like mycoplasma. This is a genus of bacteria that eventually leads to pneumonia along with a whole host of other respiratory disorders. Parasites and mites are common problems with rats as well as property and food destruction.

Elimination Of Rats

Both roof and Norway rats are going to be hard to eliminate completely from any premises. This is because they are elusive, rapid, and extremely wary of their environment. They are so aware of their surroundings that they’ll sidestep most traps, rather than just walking right into them. This isn’t something that can be said about other rodents known to infiltrate the human habitat.

What About DIY Rodent Control – Will It Work?

Speaking of do-it-yourself, this is the way that most homeowners try to venture when discovering they have a critter problem. This likely has to do with the cost of pest management solutions these days, but this is not the approach you want to take. Rats and mice are extremely complex critters. There are over-the-counter pest control products that can assist homeowners when dealing with a rat infestation.

When Will Help Arrive?

Depending on the company and the time of year you are calling, you can expect most rat specialists to show up within 24 to 48 hours after making contact. A lot of companies in Louisville offer emergency and after-hour services, so you might even get service sooner.

Are Treatments Safe?

There are a handful of pest management solutions available when it comes to rats. However, just like mice and other similar critters, it doesn’t mean they’ll all work effectively in all situations. Your neighbor might have more success with a specific type of trap where you have no success. It really depends on the situation, the type of infestation, and the severity of it. In addition to all this, each situation can be unique in its own right. This is why it is always best to just deal with someone who has the experience and is equipped to respond in a variety of situations.

Proper Prevention

As with mice, you’ll want to prevent a rat infestation before the problem starts. Unfortunately, this will also be much harder than said, Luckily, the prevention of rats is the same as with mice. Start with sealing any questionable hole outside, eliminate water sources, and then secure your food. In the process, make sure your yard is clear or cutter and debris.

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