Rodents can mean different things to different people. Some find them as adorable creatures they’d like to keep as pets, while others are terrified of them. However, regardless of your own feelings about rodents, the truth is that they are dangerous and difficult to have around your Raleigh property.
While they might make good pets, wild rodents can carry diseases like salmonellosis and rat-bite fever and pose many other health risks such as allergies and other respiratory problems. They can also cause significant property damage. To protect your home or business from the problems rodents can create, learning how to prevent them is vital.
Identifying Rodents In Raleigh
The most common home-invading rodents in the area are house mice and rats. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the two apart at just one glance, but there are some key differences between them, such as:
- Mice are only about five inches long as adults, while rats can grow up to 15 inches long.
- Rats have blunter muzzles, while mice have a pointier face shape.
- Mice have longer, thinner tails than rats.
- Rats have smaller ears in proportion to their body size, while mice have rather large ears.
Why Are Rodents So Common
Mice and rats have developed dependent relationships with humans over the years, so they often need to get inside our dwellings to survive and reproduce. They seek out shelter inside our homes and businesses as well as access to food and water. This means they are determined to get inside.
They are also a challenge to keep out for a couple of reasons. First of all, mice can fit through holes the size of a dime, and rats can squeeze through anything the size of a quarter. They can also chew through many materials, including pipes, drywall, plastic, wires, and more to make their way inside. Because of this, they can find ways to get inside, and they can also cause property damage along the way.
Why Rats Are Difficult To Eradicate
While rodent control does pose some difficulties, removing them once they invade a building is a lot more challenging. Both mice and rats will reproduce quickly, and they are also fast and great at hiding. They can live inside many tiny areas that are difficult to reach, including inside of walls.
This means that most DIY rodent removal options don’t work very well. Luckily, there is one approach that is effective. The experts at Innovative Pest Solutions provide professional pest services that will completely eradicate rodent issues and ensure that they don’t come back.
We also offer free inspections, so give us a call if you’re experiencing issues with rodents around your property.
Some Rodent Prevention Tips
In order to protect your property from rats and mice throughout the year, it’s important to work with the team at Innovative Pest Solutions. We will assist you with some rodent prevention steps to add extra protection around your home or business. Some of the most effective measures include:
- Keeping pet food stored indoors.
- Cleaning up food and drink spills right away.
- Placing lids on all garbage cans.
- Repairing holes in the walls and foundation with products like steel wool.
- Getting wire mesh to cover vent and chimney openings.
- Ensuring good ventilation and repairing leaky plumbing.
For more advice or assistance, contact the professionals at Innovative Pest Solutions.
