Rodent infestations are a nightmare for any home or business owner. Despite their small size, rats and mice can cause a lot of problems; they can contaminate food, carry diseases like rat bite fever and salmonella, and cause structural damage with their constant need to gnaw. Worst of all, theyโre stealthy โ a full-fledged infestation could develop right under your nose before you even notice a single rodent.
Dealing with a mouse or rat problem? With the Bug Out team on your side, you can put your mind at ease. Read on to learn more about these rodents and how we can help you keep them out of your home or business.
How to Identify Mice
In general, mice are smaller than rats and less outgoing in their behavior. Hereโs how to tell them apart from rats:
- The house mouse is usually 2โ4 inches long.
- Mice have larger ears and longer tails compared to their body length.
- Mice are often gray or brown in color, with a lighter shade or white color on their bellies.
- Mice droppings have pointed ends and are just 1โ2 mm long.
- Most mice feed primarily on fruits, seeds, grains, and occasionally meat.
- They produce 5โ10 litters a year with up to 14 mice in each litter.
- Mice forage at dusk and nest in attics, garages, basements, and more.
How to Identify Rats
Just about every rat species is known for being larger than their mouse counterparts. Theyโre also more outgoing, so youโre more likely to spot them out and about during the day. Here are a few more features of rats:
- Rats have thicker bodies and tails that are shorter than the length of their body.
- They possess small hairy ears and larger feet.
- They weigh anywhere from 150 to 300 grams (roughly 5 to 10.5 ounces.)
- Rat droppings are banana-shaped and much bigger than mice droppings at 10โ20 mm long.
- Rats produce 3โ6 litters a year with up to 10 pups in each litter.
- Rats are adventurous, omnivorous eaters who will feed on a variety of grains and meats.
- They forage overnight and nest in garages, trees, and basements.
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Are Rats Worse Than Mice?
Mouse and rat infestations can be equally dangerous in terms of health hazards and destruction. Rodents are infamous for their ability to carry and spread a number of potentially dangerous diseases like hantavirus, salmonellosis, rat bite fever, and more. They also can trigger allergies in people.
Finally โ and most dangerously โ they can cause significant damage to your home. Both mice and rats will chew through insulation, wood, and even electrical wiring, which can create a fire hazard for your property. Structural damage gets expensive fast and can get severe before you even notice. Preemptive inspections and rodent exclusion services from Bug Out are excellent ways to get ahead of rodent infestations before they can even start. We offer a variety of rodent services to keep these pests under control.
How to Get Rid of Mice and Rats
Rodent exclusion is an effective process you can start on your own. Put simply, this involves sealing up gaps in your structure to prevent rodents from getting inside. Rats and mice have strong teeth, and they need to chew constantly to keep their teeth (which never stop growing) under control. Check your weather stripping and look for any noticeable gaps or cracks in your exterior and foundation.
Rodents donโt need much space, so you may not catch all potential vulnerabilities on your own. Thatโs why professional rodent control is vital to keep rats and mice out of your home or business. DIY options are all over the internet, but those are temporary fixes at best. The best way to ensure that your property is protected from rodents (and pests of all kinds) is to call for professional rodent control from Bug Out.
Keep Rodents Out With Help From Bug Out
At Bug Out, we offer the best rodent control services youโll find anywhere in Lubbock TX. Whether you have mice or rats or any other pest infesting your home or business, our team is the only one youโll need to call. From initial inspections to follow-up visits, you can count on us.
Give us a call to get started with a free quote!
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