Rats and mice are two common rodents that households have to deal with at some point. Each pest creates certain problems in a home. If not eliminated quickly, rodents can be a danger to your family. A certain amount of knowledge about these two rodents is required to ensure that they do not enter your home. We provide all the information you need in this post.
Understanding the Behavior of Mice and Rats
There are certain points that owners need to know to make their rodent prevention and eradication processes easier. The following points explain these in brief.
- Rodents enter and stay in a home because it meets their three primary requirements – food, water, and shelter.
- Mice and rats can enter a home through cracks or holes in the walls or the foundation. Any opening that is larger than 0.25ʺ is enough for a mouse. Rats will increase the size of the crack or hole to enter.
- Mice are a big problem, as they can eat practically any material that may be sweet tasting. This can include grains, seeds, and even clothes. Rats are a menace because they can chew through and cut wires. They can damage the interiors of a home, and can hide behind walls, in attics, and under porches.
- Both rats and mice spread diseases by biting a human being, or by leaving their feces around the house, particularly in food. Two well-known viruses spread by the rodents are the Hantavirus and Salmonellosis. Therefore, it is very important to get rid of rats or mice.
Preventive Measures for Mice and Rats
There are a few preventive steps you can take towards rodent control. However, if you find evidence of a large infestation, contact a mouse exterminator immediately.
- Get a professional to fill up and close any cracks or gaps in the house.
- You can set up glue and snap traps, or bait stations to catch and expel the rodent from your home.
- Poison is also an option, however, it should be avoided as far as possible. If a mouse or rat eats the poison, and dies in an inaccessible part of the house, then the body decay can create a bad odor. Also, if you have a house pet, then it might consume the poison as well.
When you have knowledge about the behavior of mice and rats, it will be easier for you to understand which part of the house they are visiting, what items they will destroy, and subsequently, what steps need to be taken for their eradication.