Rodents like mice and rats may look furry and cute, but they can be a big problem and require rodent control when they decide to move in with you. Always in search of food and shelter, these pests can do some serious damage to a home. They gnaw on your electrical wires and duct work causing damage and a fire hazard. They also leave urine and droppings which carries diseases and viruses that can spread to you and your family. Additionally, these little critters reproduce very quickly, and one or two can turn into a very large extended family in a few weeks.
The obvious signs that they may have moved in include unusual noises in the attic or walls and/or droppings found in the pantry, along the baseboards or in the attic. If you suspect these folks have moved in give us a call and we’ll help you evict them and prevent more visitors.
What will we do?
- We will conduct an inspection and identify entry points.
- We will first work to trap and remove the rodents.
- If this does not achieve our goal, we will use poisons. Most rodents will eat these and then exit the house in search of water and die outside. This would be our last option since there would be a risk of the rodent dying inside of the home causing a stink for a couple of weeks.
- Once we feel confident the majority of the rodents are gone, we will work to seal the entry points that are allowing the mice/rats to enter the home.
Mouse versus a Rat:
Believe it or not, we usually tell which you have by looking at the feces. Rat’s are larger. Some other differences:
| Mouse | Rat | |
| Head | Small, triangular, small compared to body | Short, stubby, broad, large compared to body |
| Ears | Large compared to head | Small compared to head |
| Eyes | Slightly bigger compared to head | Small compared to head |
| Tail | Skinny tail | Larger tail |
| Life Span | 2.5 – 2.5 years | 2 – 3 years |
I just saw a giant rat the size of a dog run across the street!
Well, yes and no. That’s probably a nutria. We call them nutria rats though they do not belong to the rat family. These will not likely move into your home which is lucky considering that they can grow to 20 pounds. They have webbed feet and live in the water. They can be found living under buildings in downtown Houston but that is only because most of those buildings have basements full of water and so the nutria travel from those to the bayou. It’s not unusual to see them there late at night running across a street. They are considered very invasive, since they damage sugarcane and rice fields. They also breed year round so they are prolific.
Fun Facts about Rats & Mice and Rodent Control:
- They are fast learners, and rats can solve problems as quickly as dogs can.
- They love their families and without companionship they tend to become lonely and depressed.
- Rats take care of injured and sick rats in their group.
- Rats are extremely clean animals, spending hours every day grooming themselves and their group members.
- Rats can go longer than a camel without having a drink of water.
- They love to play together, wrestle and sleep curled up with their friends.
- They love to live in pianos – especially mice. They seem to like the vibration the strings make as they gnaw the wood. Also, there is a lot of felt inside of pianos and they like to chew, eat and use this for their nests. If you ever plan to purchase a really old piano – take a look inside. There is a good chance you will find wood that has been chewed down.
