MICE & RATS

Mice

Mice infestations can happen anytime of the year. Where there is one, there is most likely more. These disease carrying rodents can be destructive to your home or business if not properly treated. Mice can be white, brown, or grey and can grow 2-8’’ in length (nose to end of tail) and weigh a little over an ounce. They have small heads with a triangular snout and large, floppy, rounded ears. Their feet tend to be smaller than a rat’s and have a long, thin, slightly hairy tail. They like warm, dry, environments to build their homes,
typically within 10-30 feet from a food source. Mice are curious by nature and can fit into openings the size of a pen cap (1/4’’). If they get into your home or business, they can be destructive by gnawing through wood, sheetrock, and electrical wires. Mice droppings are approximately 1/4’’ long with pointed ends, slightly smaller than a grain of rice.

Rats
The most common rat is Central New York is the Norway Rat, also known as the brown rat or sewer rat. These rodents can be destructive to your home or business and are most active at night. These scavengers reproduce quickly making it hard to get rid of them. Rats found in this area can be black, brown, or grey and can grow up to 19’’ in length (nose to end of tail) and weigh from 3 ½ oz-2lbs. They have large heads with a blunt, rounded snout and small ears. Their feet tend to be larger in size and have a long, hairless, scaly tail. Since they are leery of their surroundings, they typically like to live in locations like attics, basements, and sewers. Rat’s teeth are very strong and do not stop growing, making it essential for them to gnaw. Rats can cause severe damage by chewing through wires, sheetrock, and even concrete. Rat droppings are approximately 3/4’’ long with blunt ends, similar to a coffee bean.

Rats are very fond of birdseed. If you tend to feed the birds, this may be attracting these disease carrying rodents onto your property.