Mice Rats And Rodents

Professional Mice, Rat, And Rodent Pest Control Houston TX

Rodents, such as the mouse and rat oftentimes find themselves inside the human habitat. Whether by coincidence or on purpose, rodent species range between 2,250 and 2,276. The rat and mouse are more likely to infiltrate homes than most other species of rodents. The squirrel and chipmunk are also known to infiltrate the human habitat. However, the likelihood of home infiltration is much lower when the chipmunk and squirrel rodent species are involved. The rat and mouse, on the other hand, are commonly detected in residential and commercial settings.

Most Common Rodent Species – Deer Mouse And House Mouse

House Mouse – If you ask most people, they will all agree, a mouse is a mouse. Well, this may be true to some degree. But, there are 38 unique species of mouse in the “Mus” genus. Take, for instance, the house mouse. The rodent has a pink, pointy nose, big black eyes, and ears with rounded tips. The house mouse’s fecal material has been described as being the replica of a cooked rice granule, but black in color, with a wretched odor.

Deer Mouse – The body varies between light brown and brownish/gray. The feet are multi-colored, while the abdomen is off-white. The hairless tail is nearly as long as the head and body, together. The droppings are similar to that of the house mouse. In the human habitat, the deer mouse can be found hiding behind or under appliances and furniture, underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and in pantries.

How To Know If You Are Dealing With A Rodent Infestation

Rodent infestations are a common problem in some neighborhoods, cities, and inner cities. These mammals are always on the lookout for food, water, and shelter. Vulnerable buildings will be targeted by all mice and rats because they are easily accessible.

• Fecal droppings behind appliances and furniture, on countertops, garbage bins, and in pantries
• Small- to medium-sized nests constructed from household waste
• Damage caused by gnawing on food packagings, structural components, furniture, kitchen cabinets, and trash bins
• Scurrying noises along frequently traveled paths (mostly at night or when ambient noise is low)

Why Do Rodents Continuously Gnaw?

One thing all species of rodents have in common is the urge to gnaw. The rodent’s incisors are continuously growing. To maintain a decent length, the rodent finds itself constantly gnawing on all types of structures and materials.

Some rodent species – rat and mouse – are nocturnal, meaning they wander at night and hide away in their nests during the daylight house. The rodent’s nocturnal behavior is part of a safety mechanism in the human habitat. Most humans are diurnal, meaning they exhibit the exact opposite behavior as the rat and mouse. Humans are generally awake during the daylight hours and asleep during the nighttime hours.

The victim’s diurnal behavior gives nocturnal rodents ample time to forage for food, construct nests, and reproduce, with minimal detection risks.

What Are The Most Common Features Of Mouse Fecal Droppings?

The typical mouse dropping is the size of a cooked granule of rice. The fecal dropping varies between dark brown and black, depending on the mouse’s last few meals. Each dropping measures between 3 and 6 millimeters in length. The ends are rounded. Once you can successfully identify the mouse fecal dropping, you will always be able to do it.

The mouse’s fecal droppings can be found along frequently traveled paths, leading from the nest to a food source. They are oftentimes found in areas, where the rodents are foraging for food and water. And, in areas where the gnawing takes place.

The fecal droppings are generally the first detectable sign of rodents after infiltration.

Why Are Mice Infiltrating My Home?

Basically, because they can without restrictions. Yes, mice target vulnerable residential and commercial establishments. Vulnerable, in this case, could mean damaged siding, open utility passageways, and weak structural components, responsible for keeping rodents out.

When mice and rats infiltrate the human habitat, the rodents are on a search for the essentials of living – water, shelter, and food.

Mice also infiltrate homes in great condition. This type of home infiltration requires much more work on the rodent’s part. Utilizing its gnawing abilities, the mouse will create openings large enough for its body to slip through. While rare, the occupants of the impacted home may detect the gnawing sounds coming from the direction, where the rodent is working.

Openings as small as ¼ inches in diameter will easily give the mouse ample space to infiltrate a home. However, to access the interior from the exterior of the home, the mouse must create such an opening. The entry point leading from the exterior to the interior, with minimal restrictions.

Is A Mouse Infestation Unhealthy?

Yes, mice and rats have been scientifically linked to various life-threatening illnesses. Lassa fever. Plague, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, hantavirus, rate-bite fever, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis are all rat-borne illnesses.

The rodents spread disease to humans through infected contaminants in their feces and urine. As the mouse is foraging for food, it is dropping fecal matter on the floor, kitchen countertop, dining table, sink, dishes, silverware, cutting boards, and cutlery.

The infected fecal droppings also end up in the family’s food supply. Vulnerable food packaging, constructed from plastic bags, paperboard, and Styrofoam.

Do Rats Cause Structural Damage?

Absolutely, rats do cause structural damage to drywall, studs, flooring, subflooring, and other building materials and components. The longer the rodents go undetected in your home, the severer the damage will become. As mentioned multiple times in the content above, the rodent’s incisors are continuously growing. To prevent overgrowth, every rodent finds itself continuously gnawing on various structures. With this said, rodents do cause structural damage to houses, commercial establishments, public facilities, and vacant buildings.

What Is The Most Effective Mouse Extermination Method?

Professional rodent management is considered by most US exterminators as “the best” extermination strategy. Our professional pest control is suitable for both the house mouse, deer mouse, and rat species. We firmly believe a partnership with our exterminators and clients will ensure maximum results in the shortest duration. When it comes to rodents, humans are not partial to sharing their homes. In fact, no one is willing to share their home with rats or mice because they fear structural damage, diseases, and feces mess.

We believe professional pest control is more effective than do-it-yourself rodenticides. We also believe a custom rodent extermination strategy is even more effective than standard treatments.

How To Submit A Rat Management Service Request?

We have three customer support contact options. The most recommended option is a phone call. Our customer support can be reached quickly via a phone call than any other option. The second quickest and easiest customer support contact method is social media. One of our pest control experts can be reached quickly via social media.

Last, but not least, our customer support can be reached via email. We need at least 24 hours to respond to email service questions.

Does Professional Rodent Bait Contain Harmful Ingredients?

Our professional rodenticide products are designed to offer 100 percent effectiveness in rodent extermination. Conventional rodenticides do contain toxic ingredients that may pose health risks to humans and animals. Rodenticide toxins may also harm the environment. Our exterminators have successfully reduced these risks by limiting our rodenticide products to EPA-approved brands.

The Environmental Protection Agency “EPA” oversees the sale and production of rodenticides and other rodent bait products. Manufacturers are required by law to obtain EPA approval for their rodenticides before they can enter the US market.

What Techniques Are Effective In Preventing Rodent Invasion?

Rodents invade homes for one reason, which is no other than to access the essentials – water, shelter, safety, warmth, and food. There comes a time when rodents are faced with food shortages. This especially applies to the winter season. Fortunately, most rat and mouse species hibernate throughout the winter seasons, allowing them to survive on minimal stored nutrients.

Another reason why rats and mice are forced to expand their search for food is colonization. Many rodent species, including the rat and mouse, colonize in large numbers. The higher the population of a rat colony, the higher volume of food needed to feed every member.

Rat nests are most often found in basements, crawlspaces, kitchens, attics, inside walls, and bathrooms. Rodent nesting is all about discretion, which plays a big role in survival after home infiltration. In the natural habitat, mice build their nests near ponds, rivers, and creeks, near landfills, firewood and lumber piles, garbage bins, and vacant buildings.

Rats and mice spread disease via contaminated fecal material. Some of these diseases can be life-threatening when left untreated for any amount of time. Keeping your family healthy requires significant prevention measures, such as the following:

• Close all entry points, utilizing metal sheeting cut-to-fit
• Develop a household waste disposal routine
• The transition from vulnerable food packagings to stainless steel, glass, and ceramic storage containers with resealable lids
• Develop a house cleaning schedule, targeting high-risk rat infestation areas.