It’s a rat race out there. The last thing you need to worry about is getting rid of a rodent problem. Your pest control experts at Superior Spray Service have made this helpful guide bout what you should know about rodents. It will help you discover the signs of rats or mice in your home and identify which one is causing your problem. Eliminate rodents once and for all with Superior Spray Service on your side.

Identifying a rodent problem can be tricky. Mice and rats can be very quiet. These small rodents are also quick and can be difficult to spot. If you are suspicious and believe you may have a rodent problem we can help. The most common signs of a rodent in your home are:

One thing you should know about rodents is how to spot their droppings or feces. Usually, about 3-6 mm in size and shaped like small pellets their droppings can often go overlooked until there is an infestation. You will find droppings in areas such as cabinets, anywhere food is stored, as well as under sinks, along baseboards, and across wall beams. Be aware, rodent droppings are contaminated with bacteria and should be disposed of quickly following proper sanitary guidelines.

The next thing you should know about rodents is they love to nest in dark, secluded areas. They also like soft beds to cuddle up in. Gathering nearby fabric, lint, hair and other materials to make their nests. If you notice shredded fabrics and paper products, it is likely some uninvited rats or mice have decided to move into your home.

Rodents will cause extreme property damage when given the opportunity. Their teeth are constantly growing and have the ability to chew through almost any type of material from wood trim to metal pipes. If your rodent guests decide to gnaw on wiring it can lead to costly damage to electronics or devastating electrical fires.

Rats are notorious for leaving dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards. Oftentimes rodents leave trails from their nesting area to their preferred food source. Although, tracks can be left from any location rodents have traveled. Track marks are due to the rodent’s oily fur and horrible hygiene.

You’re in bed. Your kids and pets are down for the night as well. Yet, you hear some strange noises; scampering of little feet, high pitched squeaking, chewing. It’s likely a rodent family is making themselves at home, in your home! Traveling through walls, cabinets, and in your attic to find the perfect path from their nests to food. In our experience, you hear them long before you begin to notice the other warning signs.

It goes without saying but If you actually spot a mouse or rat indoors, it’s bad news. Rodents reproduce quickly. The one you saw is likely part of a family that has taken up residence. Female mice can reproduce up to 35 offspring a year! That’s 35 hungry mouths to feed. Which only leads to more generations to come. As you can imagine, it gets out of hand very quickly.

Not all rodents want to live inside your home. The three most common types of rodents that are likely to take up residence are the house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rats.

The house mouse is one of the most common home invaders. They are small; roughly six inches from head to the tip of their tail. They are often grey, black, or tawny brown in color. These intruders prefer to remain within a 30-foot diameter of their food source. However, they will forage in other areas and can live virtually anywhere, thanks to their small size. 

The Norway rat is more commonly known as a sewer rat or ward rat. These stocky rats are brown to brownish-red and about 18 inches from head to tail when fully grown. Norway rats have been known to chew through metal. If they invade your home, they usually stay near the floor or plumbing. They like to be within 100 feet of their food source.

Roof rats were once known as ship rats. These rats like to live in attics, roofs, and trees. They are leaner than Norway rats and nearly as long. They measure roughly 15 inches from head to tail and their fur is black or grey. Roof rats are fantastic climbers and don’t mind roaming. Nesting up to 300 feet away from their food source.

Robert Burns once wrote, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Over-the-counter rodent traps and repellents are not long term solutions. While you plan out your attack, the home invaders are busy having a meal from your pantry and reproducing. When you want to get serious about rodent prevention and removal, call Superior Spray Service. We are part of the National Pest Management Association and are dedicated to staying up to date on proven methods and innovations in the pest control industry. Since opening our doors in 2003 we’ve become one of Florida’s leading privately-owned pest control companies. When dealing with mice and rats in central and north Florida, call the pest management specialists at Superior Spray Service (863) 682-0700 to have one of our professional technicians perform a no-cost on-site evaluation.