MICE & RATS

House Mice

Mice are more numerous than rats and are more widespread throughout urban and suburban communities. A mouse can be distinguished from a young rat since the rat's head and feet will be overly large in relation to its body.

Mice generally eat seeds, cereals, grains and sweets. However, this food is gone during the fall and winter, rodents come inside your home to feed, where they'll eat almost anything. They nest in undisturbed debris or wall voids. The house mouse generally stays close to it's nest (within 10-30 feet), travels along walls, and doesn't like open spaces.

Mice are found in almost every part of the country from urban to rural areas, and are especially prevalent in urban and suburban communities. Mice are found in buildings more often than rats because they are smaller and are able to find more available entryways into a building. Mice can fit through a crack or hole 1/4 of an inch or larger - or about the width of a pencil. Mice will make their nests in many areas in and around the home, especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris.

Norway Rats

Norway Rats usually nest in underground burrows, from which they enter buildings in search of food. Being nocturnal, they tend to remain in hiding during the day. Norway Rats prefer meats and cannot survive long without water. Reaching sexual maturity in two months, a Norway Rat infestation can increase dramatically in a short period of time. Litters may number from eight to twelve rats and can have four to seven litters per year. Adults live as long as one year.

The Norway Rat is brown, heavy-bodied, six to eight inches long. Small eyes and ears, blunt nose and the tail is shorter than the head and body. Fur is shaggy and droppings are shaped like jellybeans.

Be careful not to mistake a young rat for a mouse. Norway rats typically nest in burrows. With their powerful front teeth they can gnaw through wood, electrical cables, pipes and other objects. They have a short tail, small ears, and a much fatter and rounder body. These rats are more prevalent in rural and urban areas. They are found in homes less often because of their larger size.

Roof Rats

Roof Rats nest inside and under buildings, or in piles of rubbish or wood. They are excellent climbers and can often be found in the upper parts of structures. Roof Rats like to eat grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. They are very agile and can squeeze through openings only 1/2 inch wide. Like other rodents they carry many serious diseases.

Roof Rats are black or brown, 7 to 10 inches long, with a long tail and large ears and eyes. They have a pointed nose, and the body is smaller and sleeker than a Norway Rat. Unlike the Norway Rat the fur is smooth.

Roof rats will generally enter your home or business through trees or power lines. They nest in attics, wall voids or trees. Roof Rats prefer fruit but will eat almost anything. These rats may travel up to 50 feet from their nest to find food and water. Roof Rats predominantly live along the west coast and southeastern United States. Distinguished by its large and hairless ears, slender body, and a tail that is longer than the head and body combined.