Common Home Invading Rodents

If you’re here reading this, we can likely all agree on one thing: Rodents are not something you want in your home. Who would? Any decent renter or homeowner will squeal at the sight of a rat frolicking through your comfortable, homely living room. So much for feeling at home. If the rodent invaders come to town, you’d better be prepared with a plan. 

That’s where TermiGuard comes in. You should leave it up to the experts to solve your pest control issues. At TermiGuard, we are proud to offer professional, effective, personalized, and holistic pest control plans that can be customized to fit your exact needs. If you suspect pesky rodents may be making themselves too comfortable in your humble abode, it is time to give us a call. We will send our professional team members to assess the situation at your home at your convenience, consult with you about the possible pest control solutions, and then, develop and execute a plan to eliminate any and all unwanted critters from your residence. Whoever the tiny invaders may be, our pest control plans are guaranteed to bring you peace of mind and get rid of the nuisance once and for all. 

Most Common Home Invading Rodents

The most common rodents found in private residences are types of mice and rats. However, what most people don’t realize is that there are many different species of mice and rats, and not all are the same or cause the same level of harm in your home. Negative impacts can be health-related or structurally-related, meaning they cause physical damage to the foundation of your house. To give you a better picture of home-invading rodents, let’s take a look at the most common varieties. It is important to know how to identify them and learn the proper control methods.

House Mice

House mice are small rodents easily identified by their large, rounded ears, pointed snout, and long, hairy tail. They originate from Central Asia but are found today all over the world. House mice are ones to watch out for: while seen as cute pets to some, they can be destructive and dangerous pests. House mice are among the most commonly found in households because they tend to like living in human habitats. They take shelter indoors to avoid inclement weather and predators such as snakes. 

Unfortunately, for us, we have to deal with the many hazards they carry. House mice are a major health hazard. They transmit viruses, carry diseases and other bacteria. Mouse droppings are an early sign of infestation; their feces are dangerous as they may carry numerous bacteria. Their droppings and urine contaminate food and if they go uncontrolled, they very well may reproduce in your own home and also contaminate the places they choose as their nesting areas.

You can identify a house mouse by its short hair (can be light brown, grey, or black) with lighter-colored bellies, and by their long hairy tails. House mice are able to survive in a wide range of environments– they are also known to be sneaky, so it can be hard to spot them at first. This makes them hard to control. They tend to stick to their hiding places, such as cluttered basements or attics. There, they can build their nests and reproduce. They are also highly attracted to food sources such as unsealed pantry goods and dirty dishes.

House mice are usually controlled using bait and/or traps to catch them (some are meant to trap and remove them while others kill the mice on impact). It is also important to undertake a thorough cleaning of your home if you suspect mice rummaging around. It is recommended to undertake both inside and outside sanitation measures to eliminate potentially virus-carrying debris from the area. You should also clean away all potential food sources such as open food containers, spillages, overflowing trash cans, or dirty dishes. 

Deer Mice

Deer mice are another common mice variety. Deer mice are thought of as “cute” mice, with their loving, big eyes and large oval-shaped ears. However, they can do a lot of damage if not kept under control. While they are more outdoorsy than the homebody house mice, they can be a problem in rural areas and may find their way into farms, ranch houses, or vacation homes in remote locations. Signs of a deer mice invasion include droppings, gnawed objects, mice sightings, and nests.

Deer mice are known to be carriers of the dangerous infectious disease, Hantavirus. Hantavirus, also known by its full name hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, is a serious illness characterized by flu-like symptoms that may ultimately cause lung damage. If it is untreated or progresses rapidly, it may lead to lifelong breathing problems. Hantavirus is transmitted from rodents to humans via mice feces and urine. Humans may become infected by cleaning up deer mouse droppings or eating contaminated food. Hantavirus is an airborne virus, so even being in an environment with it can be dangerous. 

Unlike house mice, deer mice are associated with woodsy, bushy areas. They thrive in outdoorsy settings, particularly in tall grasses. Homes in rural areas surrounded by grasslands or woodlands are most at risk for a deer mice invasion. Deer mice may be found living in attics, basements, crawl spaces, garages, hollow lodges, sheds, and tree holes. 

Norway rat

Thought mice were dangerous disease carriers? Just wait till you hear about Norway rats… 

The Norway rat, affectionately called the sewer rat or street rat, is actually native to China.

Norway rats are known to carry many diseases and bacteria such as plague, jaundice, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis. They may also introduce fleas, ticks, and mites. 

Norway rats are prevalent in North America and thrive in a variety of human habitats. They have a dark undercurrent, preferring to come out at night and staying in hiding during the day. Norway rats fit into gaps and crevices through which they may enter houses. These days, many thrive in densely populated cities such as New York (where they are famous in the subway station). 

Norway rats pose both health and home-damage risks. Aside from the bacteria and diseases they transmit and carry to humans, they can wreak serious havoc on your house.  They damage building interiors by gnawing away at wirings and wood, and damaging foundations with their burrows. They may also contaminate food with their droppings and urine. Common signs of a Norway rat infestation include droppings, gnaw marks on food and objects, grease stains, and visual sightings. To keep a Norway rat infestation under control, you should seal containers such as garbage cans or other food sources, block entryways where rats can come in, reduce food sources (ie leaving pet food or birdseed out), and reduce water sources (fixing plumbing leaks, removing outdoor water containers, etc). 

Roof Rats

As the name indicates, roof rats like to stay on high ground. They enjoy living, reproducing, and nesting in high-up places such as trees or on the roofs of buildings. Their tough, long physique gives them the ability to stealthily climb trees and sneakily gain access to homes. They like to nest up at the top of trees. But they aren’t afraid of the inside world, and in fact, are more than happy to dwell inside attics or sewers. 

Roof rats are identified by their relatively large build and black-colored fur. They are long and thin with a scaly tail and large eyes and ears. While originally from Southeast Asia, they are common today in North America and often found in coastal regions. 

Roof rats, like the other rodents mentioned, are considered dangerous for humans. They chew on wood and wires and can also gnaw through drywall, insulation, pipes, furniture, clothing, books– you name it. Roof rats are the best chewers of the rat kingdom, which is bad news for humans. They are also known to carry diseases such as Salmonellosis, dysentery, and others, which they may transmit to human carriers. Aside from the obvious sign of roof rats– finding one in the flesh, dead or alive– you can detect an oncoming infestation by their droppings. Roof rat droppings found in your home are a tell-tale sign of an invasion. Another sign to watch out for is noise coming from the attic or walls of the house, or damaged electric wires.

Squirrel

Squirrels- everyone thinks they know them, but do you really? Squirrels stand out from the rest of the rodent family with their large chunky bodies and bushy tails. Most people are used to seeing squirrels outside on a regular basis and don’t consider them as pests. It is true they like to live outside and around trees, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause damage to your home. 

Squirrels are very sneaky creatures. They are good, fast runners who can race up trees almost unnoticed. They can leap long distances and jump across cables. These skills can pose a major problem to homeowners — if a squirrel finds an access point for food and shelter, they probably have the ability to reach it. They will climb into attics and cause a lot of trouble. Even the smallest opening may be enough for a squirrel to squeeze into. If a squirrel finds its way into your attic, it may nest there and start to chew up everything around them. They will do whatever it takes to build up their winter nest, even if it means tearing up everything around them. They can rip up your attic in no time and will make use of whatever resources you have.

In addition to their nests, squirrels cause damage to power lines and cables. Like rats, they have continually growing teeth so they always need something to chew away on. They gnaw on wires, causing structural damage or even fires in the case of an electric wire rupture. They also dig through insulation and cause serious damage to the foundation of your home.

How Do I Get Rid of Home Invading Rodents? 

Make it easy on yourself and leave it up to the experts. At TermiGuard, we handle rodent invasions with our three premium pest protection plans: 

TG Basic

The TG Basic plan comes with:

1. Defense for general pests around the perimeter of the foundation

2. Year-round pest protection with 6 scheduled visits

3. Covers 25+ general pests, including rodents 

4. *Termite Monitoring Stations included (discounts if termites are found)

5. UNLIMITED, no charge Call-backs

In addition, TG Basic Pest control plan includes quarterly home health inspections, interior and exterior treatments (up to 2’ from the foundation), and stinging pests up to 10’ away from the foundation and 10’ high on the house. Plus, TG Basic is earth-friendly for your kids, grandkids, pets, and family. 

TG Plus

The TG Plus plan comes with:

1. Defense for general pests up to 10’ from the foundation
2. Year-round pest protection with 6 scheduled visits
3. Covers 25+ general pests from TG Basic, plus covers termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and wood-borer Beetles
4. Annual Termite Inspection with Free Retreatment Coverage
5. UNLIMITED no charge Call backs

TG Plus is the pest control plan that rids you of all pests and termites once and for all. We can achieve your desired control outcomes while using 30% less pest control product — with no environmental runoff. 

TG Plus Vector

The TG Plus Vector plan comes with:

1. Defense for general pests up to 20’ from the foundation
2. Year-round pest protection with 6 scheduled visits
3. Covers all pests and features from TG Plus
4. Reduction of mosquitos, ticks, and fleas outdoors April – October
5. UNLIMITED no charge Call backs