Most Common Rodent

by | Feb 13, 2014 | Single Family Home

Mouse Helmet - Accurate Termite and Pest ControlRats and mice are the most common rodent pest in most parts of the world. Here in California, both can be seen year-round. Rats and mice are quite bothersome and can be a big threat to your home. They breed rapidly, carry disease, and can adapt to changing conditions quickly.
The most common of the mice is called the house mouse. They are a dusty gray color with a cream belly and measure from 2.5 – 3.5 inches in length. House mice are exceptional climbers and can jump up to a foot high. They eat almost anything and prefer to nest in the dark. House mice can squeeze themselves through holes no bigger than the diameter of a pencil and can bring other insects such as fleas, lice, mites, and ticks into your home.
The most common of the rat is called the Norway rat. It is brown with scattered black hairs and has a gray to white underside. Norway rats can measure about 7 – 9.5 inches in length. Norway rats are predominantly nocturnal and will enter a home during the winter when food sources are limited. These rats use their sharp teeth to gnaw through almost anything in order to get to food or water. They’ve been known to damage plastic and even some metal materials. Norway rats can carry diseases such as plague, jaundice, rat-bite fever, trichinosis, cowpox virus, and salmonellosis.
Some of the things you can do to prevent these rodents from entering into your home is to seal any holes on the outside of the home with silicone caulk. Also, make sure to install proper drainage at the foundation of your home such as gutters in order to channel water away from the building. If you have these in your home, it is best to get rid of them as soon as possible to prevent any major damage. If you have a rodent problem, you can count on Accurate Termite and Pest Control to eliminate them and give you peace of mind.