Rodents & Termites

Some Information On Rodents:

There are many different rodents that may find their way into your home. A description of some of the more common rodents is provided below.

House Mouse (Mus Musculus ):

Appearence: Small and slender, three to four inches long, with large ears, small eyes and pointed knows. Generally light gray or brown; droppings are rod-shaped.
Habits: Nest within structures and burrow, establish their territory near food sources, generally about 10 to 30 feet from their nest. They are inquisitive but very wary.
Diet: Omnivorous, prefers cereal grains.
Reproduction: Prolific breeders at two months old, can have litters as often as every forty to fifty days. They generally have about four to seven young per litter, and can live to about one year.
Miscellaneous: Tend to eat about fifteen to twenty times a day. They can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter inch wide. They can carry many serious diseases.

Norway Rat (Rattus Norvegicus ):

Appearence: Brown and heavy bodied, they tend to be between six to eight inches long. They have small eyes and ears and a blunt nose, with a tail that is shorter than their head and body. Their fur is shaggy, and their droppings tend to be capsule shaped.
Habits: Nest in underground burrows, from hich they enter buildings in search of food. They tend to remain in hiding during the daylight hours.
Diet: Omnivorous, but with a preference for meats. They cannot survive for long without water.
Reproduction: Reach sexual maturity in about two months; can breed any month of the year. The litter may number between eight and twelve, a female can have four to seven litters per year. Adults live to about one year.
Miscellaneous: The most common rat in the United States, their agility is limited but they are excellent swimmers. Like household mice, they carry many serious diseases.

Roof Rat (Rattus Rattus ):

Appearence: Black or brown, they range from seven to ten inches long. They have large ears and eyes, a long tail, and pointed nose. Their body is smaller and sleeker than that of a Norway rat, their fur is smooth.
Habits: Nest inside and under buildings, or in piles of rubbish or wood. They are exellent climbers, and can often be found in the upper parts of structures.
Diet: Omnivorous, but prefer grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
Reproduction: Becomes sexually mature at four months. They have four to siz litters per year, and four to eight young per litter. They live up to about one year.
Miscellaneous: They are very agile, and squueze through openings as small as half an inch wide. Many of them carry serious diseases.