Is Your Home Inviting Rodents Inside?

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1 Is Your Home Inviting Rodents Inside? Prepared by: g Serving Arizona locally since 1936 THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE

2 Tips and Tricks To Keep Your Home Rodent Free Nobody likes rodents. Sure, the rats in Cinderella sure are helpful, sewing her dress and singing in their cute, high-pitched voices. But as cold reality sets in, we all remember that life is not a movie and having a rat help you make your bed would actually be disgusting rather than adorable. Since we can t all be in a fairy tale and we want to keep rodents out of our homes, it s imperative to take measures to keep them from entering. When it comes to rodents, prevention is key; if you wait until you ve already noticed them lurking around, it s extremely difficult to get them to leave. Use this guide to help you learn of rodents favorite times to move indoors, what species you can expect to see and how to keep them from coming inside your home. WHAT KINDS OF RODENTS CAN I EXPECT TO SEE? When you re trying to prevent rodents from entering your home or yard, it s important to learn what kinds of rodents are common in your area. While most prevention tips are general enough to work on most rodents, you can still save yourself some work and hassle by specifically targeting the species you re most likely to encounter. Some of the most common rodent species are wood rats, roof rats and house mice. Use this brief guide as a starting point to identifying the rodents you see. WOOD RATS The wood rat, also known as the pack rat, is more related to the dormouse than it is to most other species of rat. Its small body, ranging from 8 to 20 inches in length, including its 3- to 9-inch tail, is usually light brown or gray, sometimes with a reddish tint, and has a white belly and white paws. Wood rats can have as many as five litters per year, and each litter can have up to five young. Wood rats earned the nickname pack rats for their tendency to gather and hoard trophies to build and enhance their nests. The wood rat lives in an enormous nest made of twigs, branches and other plant matter, as big as four feet across. These nests are typically in trees, at the bases of a trees or under rocky ledges. Wood rats like to search for trophies to deposit in their nests, and it s commonly said that they will trade an item for an item; in reality, the wood rat is likely carrying something it wishes to put in its nest when it comes along an item it sees as better, so it leaves the first item behind. Because of their pack rat tendencies, wood rats are likely to get into your home, shed, garage, car and anywhere else in search of materials for their nests and trophies to keep inside them. Close-up look at a Wood Rat. By R. B. Forbes - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain, wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=

3 The roof rat, one of the longest species of rat, with a body of 6 to 8 inches long. ROOF RATS Commonly called the black rat or the ship rat, the roof rat is one of the longest species of rat, with a body of 6 to 8 inches long. The roof rat is unique among rats because of its tail, which is longer than the length of its body and similar in color to its fur, rather than the scaly, wormlike tail of other rats. The roof rat s fur is dark, usually gray or brown with black mixed in, and sometimes has a light-colored underside. Roof rats also have distinctive ears that protrude out from its head and are large in proportion. Fully grown, a roof rat can weigh up to a pound and its young can be as big as a fully grown house mouse. Female roof rats can have as many as six litters per year with up to eight young per litter; in turn, the young reach maturity between two and five months of age. Signs that house mice may have made your house their home include nests made of shredded paper or other soft materials, and signs of gnawing on any food items. House mice prefer to build their nests in relatively sheltered areas in or around your home, so under your porch, in your wood pile, in any corner or in your basement are some of the places they might build a nest. House mice prefer cereal and other grains, but they aren t picky and constantly nibble on anything they can get their teeth on. Because house mice are excellent climbers, they have no difficulty getting on your countertops and tables to better access food items. The roof rat gets its name by its amazing ability to climb nearly any surface and make a nest in the upper areas of homes and other shelters. Roof rats are food hoarders, piling stashes of fruit, nuts and other items to eat later, so such piles in corners or high places of your home are usually a sign that a roof rat lives there. They also tend to leave a greasy residue where they walk, especially where they enter and exit your home. HOUSE MICE The house mouse is a small rodent, especially compared to the wood rat and roof rat, measuring 3 to 4 inches in body length, with their tails adding another 3 to 4 inches. House mice are usually dusty brown or light gray, with a light-colored underbelly and delicate facial features and dark whiskers that stand out against the fur. House mice are rapid breeders, having as many as 4 to 7 young each month, meaning one or two mice can turn into an all-out infestation in no time at all. Their young are born tiny, hairless and pink. An example of a House Mouse. 3

4 HOW CAN I KEEP RODENTS FROM COMING INTO MY HOUSE? As mentioned above, prevention is the most important thing when it comes to rodents. Often, homeowners or renters wait until they notice the signs of rats or mice before they start trying to keep them away. Sometimes, poisons and traps work once the rodents have moved in, but most of the time a professional exterminator is required in these cases. Remember that prevention measures, such as those listed below, are for keeping rodents away in the long term; conversely, extermination is for getting rid of rodents in the short term. KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN AND TIDY This may sound obvious, but keeping your home clean is an essential part of keeping rodents away. If they don t have anywhere to hide, eat, sleep and raise their young, rodents won t make your space their home. Keeping debris, trash and food where they belong can go a long way in preventing rodents from finding your home an attractive place to live. The following are some of the specific things you can do to keep from attracting rats and mice: Keep all food in sealed plastic containers Keep garbage in cans with tight lids Wipe down kitchen surfaces to eliminate food residue and crumbs Vacuum or sweep up crumbs wherever they accumulate, e.g., the dining room, under the baby s high chair, on the sofa in front of the TV, etc. Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from the house Trim bushes and trees so they aren t touching the side of the house Fill holes in trees with cement to prevent animals nesting there Rinse out food and beverage containers before putting them in the trash Using these tips will both eliminate food smells that can attract rodents and keep them from finding places to nest in and around your home. SEAL ALL POINTS OF ENTRY Rodents are sneaky and small, two characteristics that make it extremely easy for them to find their way inside your home. In addition, most species are excellent swimmers and climbers so they can get through many barriers to get indoors. The best thing you can do to keep rats and mice out is seal all points of entry into your home. Mice can squeeze through holes as small in diameter as a nickel, so even cracks and holes of that size must be sealed. Filling in the holes where wires and pipes enter your home, as well as any other spaces you notice, with steel wool and caulk is the best way to keep rodents from entering. Additionally, install door sweeps on all exterior doors, strong screens on windows and even a metal screen over your chimney. If you can eliminate all the weak points outside your home, rodents won t be able to find a way in. 4

5 WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THERE S AN INFESTATION? If all your prevention efforts are in vain and you end up with an infestation, it s important to call in a professional. A trained exterminator from a reputable company will be able to deal with any rodent problem you have safely and effectively. It s incredibly important to call in an exterminator at the first sign of rodents, as rats and mice are prolific breeders. Indeed, some species can have as many as forty weaned young per female per year, quickly turning one or two rodents in your house into a full-blown infestation. If you follow the guidelines laid out here, you will be in a good position to keep rodents from entering your home. Keeping your house and yard clean, properly storing your food and keeping a general lookout for odd behavior can go a long way in keeping your home pest free. Home of the All Pest Solution g SOURCES: health/rodent-control/index.html azext.com (855)