It can be quite jarring to suddenly stumble across something skittering across your kitchen or basement floor. No one gets excited about rodents infringing on their space! Though house mice and Norway rats are rodents that will not normally invade the same space, they will still invade your San Antonio home.
What Do Norway Rats & House Mice Look Like?
Norway rats are larger than house mice, but neither are welcome house companions. The adults average eight to ten inches in body length. They have brown and black fur with a grey to white belly.
Common house mice are smaller than Norway rats. They can reach up to 3 3/4 inches long with a tail of approximately equal length. They have dusty grey fur with a cream belly.
Why Are These Rodents Dangerous To Have On Your Property?
Unfortunately, these rodents are dangerous to people and their property. They can carry and spread harmful bacteria such as trichinosis and salmonellosis in their saliva, urine, and feces. In fact, they are known to spread more than 35 diseases. You can contract these diseases by handling rodents, dead, or alive. They can also carry external parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites into your home. This brings in another myriad of unwanted health hazards.
Due to the fact, that both these rodents have sharp and powerful teeth, they can cause quite a bit of destruction in the home. They are capable of chewing through pipes, drywall, rubber, flooring, plastic pipes, insulation, aluminum, and electrical wires. Never mind the destruction they can do to personal items such as linens, clothing, and furniture.
They also create burrows in the ground for hiding, resting, and nesting. To create soft spaces, they will scavenge and chew through items to bring back to their nests leaving a mess in their wake.
Lastly, mice and rats are prolific breeders. A female mouse has approximately eight litters a year, with 5-6 pups per litter. Rats normally will have seven litters of 6-12 pups. They breed all year round, so this can result in a mass infestation
Tips For Keeping Rodents Off Of Your Property
To keep mice and rats from infiltrating your San Antonio home, its best to be proactive. The following tips will help keep these pests away:
- Keep your yard clean. Keeping your grass cut, and weeds pulled help remove potential hiding spots. Also, remove piles of leaves and wood that serve as potential hiding spots.
- Seal trashcans and any uneaten food. Bird food, pet food, and trash attract these hungry critters. So, remove any exposed food by placing any uneaten bird seed or pet food in sealed containers.
- Use bait traps. Set baited traps in areas where you have seen mice, rats, or their droppings.
- Seal entry points. Inspect the exterior of your home for places where rodents can get inside. Packing steel wool into tight spaces that acts as a natural deterrent because it is difficult and unpleasant to chew.
- Cover any burrow openings. Fill any burrows with rocks or dirt as these may be entry or exit holes.
Despite your best efforts, you still may be battling a rodent infestation. Once these prolific breeders establish themselves on your San Antonio property, they are difficult to eliminate without professional assistance. If you suspect an infestation, please reach out to us today. One of our licensed pest technicians from Romney Pest Control will inspect the interior and exterior of your home and set up a plan for effective pest control. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote.
