* If you are having problems with silverfish please be sure to give us a call.

                                      Rodent entry Points ----  click to enlarge:
 

	Rat/Mice Droppings:
	ROOF RATS
		Roof Rats are excellent climbers and get their name because they usually live high off the ground, like on the roof of a building. They have very poor vision and are color blind, but they have extremely strong senses of hearing, smell, touch and taste. Rats have four to six litters a year and each litter has 6 to 12 babies in it. These rats are only pregnant for about 21 to 23 days and they can start reproducing when they are three months old. Size: 16" nose to tail Color: Black DIET Roof Rats prefer eating fruits, berries, vegetables, cereal, pet food, nuts, grain, slugs, snails and rotten food. HABITAT Roof Rats are excellent climbers and they usually live in spaces on the tops of buildings, on roofs or in attics. They also live in sheds, garages, boxes, ceilings, under floors, in wood heaps and in thick grass. IMPACT Roof rats cause damage to structures by chewing, eating stored foods and carrying diseases, such as Hantavirus. They are most famous for spreading the highly contagious bubonic plague in the Middle Ages. Rats will also attack both animals and humans. Human babies and even adults have been killed in rat attacks. PREVENTION * Rats like to eat, so keep your homes clean and do not leave food out. * Make sure that your home and storage areas are clean and dry. * Make sure that you clean your sheds, crawlspaces, and garbage cans often. * Close up any small holes and cracks they can come in through.
	NORWAY RATS
		The Norway rat is also called a "sewer rat". Norway rats tend to be larger and more aggressive to animals, humans and each other than Roof rats. Size: 10" to 12" long Color: Black DIET Norway rats eat a wide variety of foods but mostly prefer cereal grains, meats, fish, nuts, and some fruits. HABITAT When Norway rats invade buildings, they usually remain in the basement or ground floor. They also live in fields, farms, woodpiles and buildings. Their nests are usually lined with shredded paper or cloth. IMPACT These rats are known for the damage they cause by chewing on materials, urinating on food and eating stored foods. They have also been known to chew on wires, which can cause fires to start. They also carry disease and ectoparasites. Rats will also attack both animals and humans. Human babies and even adults have been killed in rat attacks. PREVENTION * Rats will eat almost anything, so keep your homes clean and don’t leave food out. * Make sure that your home and storage areas are clean and dry. * Make sure that you clean your sheds, crawlspaces, and garbage cans often. * Close up any small holes and cracks they can come in through.
	HOUSE MOUSE
		The house mouse is the most common rodent pest in most parts of the world. A female house mouse can give birth to up to a dozen babies every three weeks. That’s 150 babies a year! Size: 2" Shape: Mouse Color:Light brown to black DIET House mice primarily feed on plants, but they will also eat meat and dairy products. They will drink water but require very little of it. They will eat their own droppings to acquire nutrients produced by bacteria in their guts! HABITAT House mice live in structures, but they can live outdoors. They breed throughout the year and often share nests with their "relatives". IMPACT Even the smallest amount of mouse urine can trigger allergies, particularly in children because their immune systems are still developing. Mice spread disease through bite wounds and by contaminating food and water with their waste products. Mice can also spread disease thanks to parasites, such as ticks, fleas and mites. These parasites bite the infected mouse and then spread the disease by biting humans. PREVENTION * Mice eat 15-20 times a day, so keep your homes clean and do not leave food out. * Be sure to empty kitchen and household garbage cans frequently. * Make sure that your home and storage areas are clean and dry. * Make sure that you clean your sheds, crawlspaces, and garbage cans often. * Close up any small holes and cracks they can come in through.
	DEER MOUSE
		Deer mice get their name because their fur looks a lot like deer fur. They are most commonly found in open grasslands, brushy country, cliffs, forests, pasturelands, and croplands. Size: 5" to 8" long Color: Brown to Dark Brown DIET Deer mice eat seeds, small fruits and berries, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and an underground fungus. They prefer to eat insects when they can find them. HABITAT The deer mouse makes its home outdoors in hollow tree logs or piles of garbage. They are nocturnal, so they sleep in their nests during the day. They also use their nests to raise their young and to protect them against harsh weather. When a deer mouse does come indoors, it prefers quiet places, such as attics. IMPACT Deer mice can spread the potentially fatal Hantavirus. The virus can be spread by touching infected mice or by breathing in the fumes released in their urine. PREVENTION * Mice eat 15-20 times a day, so keep your homes clean and do not leave food out. * Be sure to empty kitchen and household garbage cans frequently. * Make sure that your home and storage areas are clean and dry. * Make sure that you clean your sheds, crawlspaces, and garbage cans often. * Close up any small holes and cracks they can come in through.