Mice Rats And Rodents

What Kind Of Mice Do I Have?

Everyone in Baltimore has likely dealt with mice at some point or another. This is not to say that the area is dirty, but it does seem to be congested with mice. This is why it is imperative to learn as much as you possibly can about the critter because you do not want to be trying to deal with them with limited information. Most people don’t know it, but two common types of mice invade properties in Baltimore. These are the ones that are most commonly found in homes and businesses. At least this is true for the Baltimore area. It might not be true for other areas of States.

Anyway, these two would be the house mouse and the deer mouse. While the two are both classified as mice, there is much to distinguish between the two species. The house mouse is a much, much smaller rodent that is virtually hairless. It has a pointed black nose with protruding eyes and larger ears. The house mouse can range in color from light brown to black. As far as their bellies go, they are usually gray and slim. The deer mouse, on the other hand, is a bi-colored creature, meaning it has white feet, white bellies, and brown backs or heads.

The tail of the deer mouse is one of the most distinguishing features of the critter, as it is rather long. It is oftentimes the entire length of the mouse itself. The tails are also bi-colored, which is something unique to note. The deer mouse also has larger eyes and ears compared to that of the house mouse. The droppings of the deer mouse are black and smooth with pointed ends, whereas the house mouse droppings are black and usually smell musty. These are just a few things that can help you distinguish between the two species, but there is much, much more to learn about these critters.

Detecting The Sign Of A Rodent Infestation

It is always key to detect a rodent infestation as early as possible. The earlier you tackle the problem, the much easier it’ll be. Here’s what you’ll want to keep an eye out for:

• Droppings in and around the property (They don’t necessarily have to be in the home)
• Look for rodent nests they are usually constructed out of common household materials like twigs, grass, and newspaper
• Keep an eye out for gnaw marks on door frames, exposed electrical wires, and food containers
• With a rodent infestation, you might hear scurrying little feet on the ceilings or in the walls during the night hours

Interrupting The Mouse Droppings

Spotting mouse droppings will be one of the key ways to determine if you are dealing with an infestation. Believe it or not, different critters produce different types of scat or droppings, so it is entirely possible to tell what type of critter you are dealing with by analyzing their feces. It sounds disgusting, but it is just a natural part of living with rodents. This is why you want to eliminate them as quickly as possible. The good news is, the droppings are usually quite obvious and typically black with a granular shape and a length of 3 to 6 millimeters. This could easily be compared to that of a grain of rice. The droppings are usually found near breeding and nests areas or where the critters have been feeding, so these are the areas you’ll certainly want to check first.

Who Do I Have Mice?

Most people don’t know it, but mice are classified as commensal creatures. What does this mean? It means that they share similar space and habitats with humans. They in part depend on the human for survival, so you might be contributing to the infestation and not even know it. Mice always need food, water, shelter, and are always on the search for it. They’ll enter the tiniest of cracks and openings to get to these things. Just about any opening that is not sealed should be considered a potential entry point for these critters. Some of these critters have reportedly squeezed their bodies into holes smaller than a ¼-inch in diameter.

Are Mice Dangerous?

Unfortunately, tons of inherent risks come along with rodent infestations. This is another reason to tackle the infestation as quickly and efficiently as possible. These creatures are always leaving urine and feces everywhere, but this is just the start of their destruction. They can do immense amounts of damage physically and structurally. To start, these critters are known for harboring and vectoring a whole slew of diseases, including Hantavirus, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Lassa Fever, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis, Plague, and Rat-Bite Fever.

In addition to this, these rodents feel the constant need to gnaw and chew because their front teeth are continuously growing. The gnawing and chewing keep the pain and discomfort at bay. This is why they chew on common household items, including electrical wires, which can lead to shorting and house fires. Here are some other common signs of rodent infestations:

• Contamination of surfaces and food items from droppings and urine
• The spread of many various harmful diseases
• Tons of structural damage, including the potential for hire fires
• Damage to other electrical equipment and components in the home or property

How To Eliminate Mice?

Mice can be more difficult to eliminate than most critters. One of the reasons for this is, their ability to survive with little. They can thrive with the littlest of living conditions. In addition to this, they can run up walls, across ceilings, and will sidestep common mousetraps just to avoid them. They are very quick and tricky. This is why it is best to opt for professional care right from the start.

When Can Help Get Here?

As you can see, rodent elimination is best left for professionals. Individuals with the experience and know-how to tackle these situations with the utmost efficiency. Because of this, we stay extremely busy in the Baltimore area. However, one of the reasons we stay so busy is because we are willing to adapt and make adjustments or exceptions for our customers. All you have to do is give us a call and we’ll have someone out to the property with 24 to 48 hours. If you require emergency services feel free to give us a call, as we can get someone out to the property immediately.

Are There Safe Solutions?

We are big believers in environmental caution and this is why we are willing to offer eco-friendly solutions whenever applicable. While these treatments aren’t always applicable in all situations and aren’t even as effective, we try to offer them when and where we can. This is because they are just much safer. Safer for everyone involved. They are not only safer for our techs and your family, but they are safer for the critter. We take the utmost care with mice and rodents when we can. If we can capture the creatures alive, we will choose to do so. Whatever the situation, we take safety with the utmost care. You can rest assured that all our techs are trained, certified, and licensed via the EPA.

What Are Rats?

Most Baltimore residents confuse rats for rodents and mice. Unfortunately, this is not entirely the case at all. Mice, rats, and rodents are entirely different creatures with different mentalities, moods, and temperaments. That being said, there are typically only two types of rat species that you have to worry about in Baltimore. This would be the roof rat and the Norway rat. While both belong under the rat classification, they are different creatures. Learning to distinguish between the two could be the difference between successful elimination and failure. Here’s what you need to know:

• Both are considered commensal rodents, meaning they share the table with humans
• Norway rats are a bit larger with a body of 7 to 9 inches long
• Norway rats have brown shaggy hair
• Their noses are blunt
• Their tails are 6 to 8 inches long
• Their droppings are about ¾ inches in length with blunt-ended capsules
• Roof rats have a body of 6 to 8 inches in length
• Their hair is smoother than that of the Norway rat
• They have pointed noses
• The roof rat’s tails are anywhere from 7 to 10 inches long
• Their droppings are ½ inch long with pointed ends

Detecting Early Warning Signs Of Infestations

There isn’t much good you can say about rats. However, there are a few good things, and one is, the tell-tale signs of infestation are about the same as mice. If you have rats you’ll want to look for droppings in and around the property, gnaw marks, burrows, tracks, and rub of grease marks. Look for these things and they could be a direct indication of a rat infestation.

Are Rats Dangerous?

Rats are just as threatening as mice and other rodents. They’ll not only do immense amounts of structural damage to your property, but they can be extremely physically threatening. They carry and transmit a whole host of diseases, including mycoplasma, which is a genus that can cause pneumonia and other respiratory disorders.

How To Eliminate Rats?

Rats are just as difficult to eliminate as rodents and common mice. This is because they are just as elusive with some of the same abilities. They’ll climb on walls, scour the ceiling, and get in between the walls. Simply put, if there is an opening in the home or property, these critters will squeeze through them. They have reportedly squeezed through openings as tiny as ¼-inch in diameter.

Can I Eliminate Rats Myself?

Because of the complexities and costs of pest management, many people try to tackle rats, mice, and rodent infestations on their own. It is understandable to want to eliminate the critters as quickly as possible from the property, especially if you are running a business, but, unfortunately, this is not always the best approach. In the long run, it’ll just end up costing you more money and time. This is because these critters are extremely elusive. They will go out of their way to walk around traps and avoid other lures. Turn to the pros that know how to tackle the situations with the utmost efficiency.

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