Unfortunately, rats and mice can be seen in many homes across the United States. While the most recent US Census reported that 14 million of the 124 million homes had a pest problem in the last winter, some surveys find that as many as one-third of the population can have pests in the winter.
Rodents can be lured into a home for the warmth and smell of food.
Rodents can pose a danger to your property and a hazard to your health. They can carry deer ticks that can transfer Anaplasmosis, transfer Leptospirosis in their urine, and spread Salmonella. In addition, these pests have teeth that consistently grow, and they enjoy chewing on drywall, wood furniture, and cables or wires in and about the home – causing a risk for house fires.
If You See One, There Are More
Rats and mice have a gestational period of 18-21 days, meaning that they can produce a litter of a dozen 12-15 times a year. That’s a lot of rodents in your house!
If you see one rat or mouse, there are likely more hidden behind the furniture, in crawl spaces, or tucked away in closets. They can enter a hole as small as a coin, so even the tiny gap under a door is enough for them to come to cause chaos in the home.
What Are You Likely to See in the Home?
Some kinds of rats and mice are more frequently seen than others; keep reading so you know what you could be up against if you hear critters in the night.
Norway Rats
This rat species can be seen throughout the US and is nocturnal. They will explore the area, find garbage to enjoy, and then come inside once that food source is depleted.
Norway rats can spread such diseases and ailments as the plague, cowpox virus, and other unhealthy bacteria.
Roof Rats
These rats will mostly be seen on the East and West coasts and along the southern regions of the US. Although they can swim, roof rats tend to nest their colonies high in the trees. Therefore, if you have fruit trees, it is best to maintain them well and remove any rotting fruit along with trimming the tree to minimize their access to your home.
They do not commonly transmit diseases, but they can carry the plague.
Deer Mice
What brings the deer mouse to your residence is mainly pet food and birdseed. They often come to your property from a shed or barn house. Once they are close, they may seek refuge inside while the temperatures drop.
Hantavirus can be extremely dangerous and possibly fatal to humans and will be passed through urine, droppings, or saliva as they chew on various objects in the house.
House Mice
The house mouse is the most common rodent for homeowners in the U.S.. The frequent sighting is because they can jump as high as a foot and therefore have increased availability to reach small openings and windows. However, since they are so small, they can be easily missed in dark corners and hiding spaces in and around the home.
This type of rodent can be hazardous if unnoticed as they are extreme chewers and will gnaw through the walls and wires quickly. In addition, house mice are known to transmit Salmonella and contaminate food in the home.
You have identified the problem. Now what?
Horn Pest Management has teams of experienced and licensed technicians who can determine the best course of action for the issue at hand.