Rodent Identification & Prevention

What are rodents?

Many types of rodents can cause problems on residential properties, but the most common pests in our area are:

• Norway rats: 7 to 9 ½ inches long with a 6 to 8-inch tail and brown fur with black hairs
• Roof rats: 6 to 8 inches long with a 6 to 8-inch tail and brown and black fur
• Field mice: 3 to 4 inches long with a 2 to 4-inch tail and brown or gray fur
• House mice: 2 ½ to 3 ¾ inches long with a 2 to 4-inch tail and gray fur
• Voles: 3 to 7 inches long with a very short tail and brown and gray fur

Are rodents dangerous?

Having any kind of rodent in your home is dangerous because of the diseases and parasites they spread, the contamination they cause, and the damage they create.

The diseases and parasites spread by these pests include, but are not limited to, salmonellosis, tularemia, hantavirus, rat-bite fever, plague, rabies, ticks, mites, and fleas. As rodents make their way through a home, they will leave behind fur, waste, and saliva, contaminating the food and surfaces they touch.

One thing all rodents share in common is they have teeth that never stop growing, which is also why they are known for chewing. They can chew through almost anything, damaging furniture, walls, wires, pipes, and more.

Why do I have a rodent problem?

Rodents infest residential properties because people provide food and shelter for these animals. While voles eat plants from yards and gardens, the other rodents mentioned above will make their way inside homes and eat everything from crumbs to garbage. They will also build nests in wall voids and other places where they find protection from the predators outside.

Where will I find rodents?

Depending on the species, you can find rodents in several different places:

• Voles usually stay outdoors, where they build underground burrows and tunnels.
• Roof rats are excellent climbers, so they often enter homes through the roofline, living in attics.
• Norway rats have heavy bodies and are not skilled at climbing like roof rats, so they are usually in areas of the home that are ground level.
• Field mice and house mice can be found all over a house, traveling through walls.

Kitchens are the most common areas to see signs of a rodent infestation because they look for food when they invade homes. They will hide under appliances and inside cabinets and closets.

How do I get rid of rodents?

Contact us at Wise/Chem Safe Pest Control to get rid of rodents. We offer reliable rodent control services utilizing traps and bait stations. Before we place any traps or baits, we will determine how these pests got inside, allowing our rodent control specialist to eliminate the source of your problem.

Contact Wise/Chem Safe Pest Control for a quick response and free estimate!