How Much Do You Really Know About The Rodents In Huntsville?
February 14, 2020
Every winter, there’s always one unexpected and unwanted surprise that homeowners face. As temperatures drop, rodents look for warm shelter and a sustainable supply of food. As a result, you may find yourself in the throws of a rodent infestation. It’s estimated that over 21 million homes see rodents seeking shelter during this time of year. To make matters worse, mice and rats are known for reproducing quickly resulting in a small problem escalating into a full-blown infestation.
Before we dive into the problems associated with rodents, we need to cover the most common ones homeowners see in their Huntsville homes.
Deer Mice
This species is found all over the country and predominately favors rural areas. Deer mice are brown with creamy white underbellies. They are 5-8 inches long, depending on the individual. Deer mice are noted for having a bi-colored tail, which makes them easy to identify. During the winter, they’re more likely to sneak into homes for extra food and warmth.
House Mice
This mouse type is also found throughout the country. House mice are dusty grey with a cream belly. They can grow up to 3 3/4 inches long. Unlike deer mice, this breed likes to nest in dark secluded areas within a structure such as a closet, basement, or attic. The complete sealing of the house is necessary to keep this rodent out since they can fit through dime-sized openings.
Norway Rats
Norway rats are found in every part of the country and are mostly nocturnal. They can reach up to 9 inches and are brown and black in color. Their favorite environment is piles of garbage under concrete slabs. Rat infestations usually start in the fall but pick up during the winter when food sources are scarce. Despite their large size compared to mice, they can still fit through openings as small as a quarter.
Why Rodents Are A Big Concern
Wild rodents are not like the mice and rats you see in the pet stores. These rodents are actually serious health concerns. The reason why is simple: They carry a wide range of diseases including rat-bite fever, hantavirus, bubonic plague, salmonella, tularemia, typhus, and more. Furthermore, rodents are hosts to fleas, which only adds to the problem as fleas will bring other harmful bacteria and diseases into your home.
We’d like to say the problems stop there, but in reality, rodents are also responsible for causing damage to the home. They keep their ever-growing teeth under control by eating away at nearly everything including the plastic coatings of any wires within the home. That computer you keep plugged in? It’s a fair game for mice and rats. Should these wires be chewed through, the end result could be fire due to short-circuiting.
Stay Ahead With Rodent Prevention
The best way to stay ahead of any rodent problems is to prevent them from settling in your house. This can be accomplished by keeping the following tips in mind:
- Install door sweeps
- Repair damaged screens
- Put screens over openings like vents or chimneys
- Seal all cracks and holes
- Store food in airtight containers
- Take out the trash regularly
- Ventilate and dry attics and basements
Rodent Prevention with Custom Pest Control
Controlling a rodent problem takes a lot more than just buying a few traps and calling it good. Both mice and rats reproduce at a fever pitch, which means those few traps aren’t even eliminating 1% of the rodents nesting in the house. That’s why our team at Custom Pest Control works diligently to provide rodent services designed with your specific needs in mind.
We offer both monthly and quarterly services for all of your pest control needs. No matter what kind of problem you have, you can count on exceptional service without needing to sign a contract or make a long-term commitment. Do you need rodent control services? Then give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional pest control services or fill out our online form to schedule your free quote.