What do they look like?
Rats and mice are small to medium-sized rodents with pointed noses, finely furred ears and long tails. Common urban rodents are Norwegian rats, roof rats, house mice and deer mice. An average adult mouse can grow upwards of eight to ten inches long and weigh up to 50 grams. Rats are much larger, growing up to 15 to 20 inches with a weight of up to 400 grams. Rats and mice come in a variety of colors and markings that include black, grey, brown and white. Mouse droppings look similar to a black piece of rice, where rat droppings are the same general shape but two to three times larger in size.
Where do they come from?
Rats and mice are generally very small and can easily enter a residence through small, obscure openings. In fact, mice can enter a home through an opening the size of dime, where rats only require an opening as small as a quarter. Point of entry may include entrances, windows, and through the cracks and crevices along walls and floors. Rats and mice are attracted to warm places with easy access to food and water and they feed on a variety of organic material, including both plant and protein-based products. As a result, an occupied residence is an ideal place for them to survive and breed rapidly.
Will they cause any damage to my home or business?
Rats and mice are notorious for causing damage in a home or business. Tooth marks from gnawing or chewing can be found on various surfaces and items they come in contact with. The primary reason for damage is because a rodent’s front teeth does not stop growing. As a result, it must continuously gnaw on objects to keep its teeth filed down. Without rodent control, these pests will continue to feed and nest, causing damage to your property. Their jaws are very strong and can chew through walls, soft concrete, wiring and pipes. These activities may lead to structural damage and create electrical and fire hazards. Droppings and urine left behind contaminate surfaces and food exposed to these rodents are no longer safe for human consumption and must be thrown away.
Will they cause me or my family to become sick?
Yes. Proper rodent control is needed to protect yourself, as they are a well-known carrier of diseases which may be easily transmitted to humans. Diseases they are associated with include, but are not limited to, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, lestospirosis and rat-bite fever. These diseases are transmitted through direct contact, or the inhalation or consumption of contaminated items. Infected ticks carried by these rodents may also spread diseases to humans with devastating effects. For example, rats carrying infected ticks caused the spread of the bubonic plague, otherwise known as the Black Death, in Europe that killed half the population during the Middle Ages. Other than physical illness, infestations have been known to affect the emotional and psychological well-being of the home owner or tenant.
Where will I generally find them in my home or business?
Rats and mice are primarily nocturnal creatures by nature. They tend to nest or sleep in dark and quiet corners and crevices of a building’s structure, such as in the roofs, basements, attics and walls. Storage units or cluttered areas are also ideal hiding places for these rodents.
How to identify damage caused by rodents
Why do I have to get rid of them?
Rats and mice cause damage to the content or structure of a property that may be very costly to fix or replace. In addition, they are carriers of diseases that can be transmitted to humans simply by being in direct or indirect contact with the rodents or their wastes. Rats and mice breed rapidly and with a greater population comes increase risk to the health and safety of occupants.
How can 1st Pest Control help?
At 1st Pest Control we specialize in pest and wildlife remediation, such as both mouse and rat control. Rodents are prevalent throughout single family homes, multi-family buildings and commercial properties in the Lower Mainland. With industry-leading mouse and rat control methods, you can feel secure that your home or business is being treated to the highest industry and safety standards by our Certified Pest Control Technicians. By combining both environmentally-friendly pest control services and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, we will create a specialized treatment program tailored to your specific location and infestation. Our mission is to eradicate pests in your home or business to give you peace of mind and to ensure the safety of you and those you care about.
When can we get started?
Today! Call 1st Pest Control and our Certified Pest Control Technicians and friendly office staff will begin creating a customized treatment program to get your pest problem under control. 1-844-PEST-CANADA (737-8226).
At 1st Pest Control, we aim to help you reclaim your space from pests and wildlife.