Rodents
What are they?
House mice
Color is grayish brown with large ears and small eyes. Tail 3-4 inches. Generally eat grains, but will eat anything. Have keen senses of smell, touch, and hearing.
Droppings-pointed ends, about ¼ inch in size, average about 50 droppings a day.
Rats-Roof and Norway
Color is brownish gray to black. Tail is 6-10 inches long. Only need 1 ounce of food a day to survive.
Droppings-have rounded ends, about 1/2 -3/4 inch in size, average about 30-180 droppings a day.
What are their habits?
- Both are excellent climbers and can jump high.
- Both burrow.
- Run along walls.
- Good reproduction.
- Mice can survive a fall of 8 feet.
- Rats can survive a fall of 25 feet.
- Average life span for both is about 1 year.
- Rats explore their territory of 100 to 300 feet daily.
- A mouse travels 12 feet per second.
What are methods of prevention?
Practicing good sanitation and rodent proof the inside and outside of buildings.
Outside
- Cover all trash containers with tight fitting lids.
- Keep landscaping neat and organized.
- Remove all wood and debris from property or store off the ground.
- Maintain pet food and bird feeders.
Inside
- Seal up all cracks and crevices in your building.
- Install tight-fitting windows and screens.
- Seal all gaps around piping or conduit.
- Store all open food in tight fitting containers.