No matter what time of year it is in Texas, there’s one type of pest that is always happy to make its presence known. This pest is none other than the rodent. While there are many species of rodents available, the two most troublesome for homeowners are mice and rats.
These two rodents look remarkably similar and even boast some of the same habits. However, they possess key differences that everyone should be aware of when dealing with rodent infestations. These differences include but aren’t limited to:
- Mice: Mice are usually grey in color and only grow to about four inches in length. They are further identified by their rounded fur-covered body, long thin tail, and large rounded ears.
- Rats: At first, rats look the same only much bigger. However, despite their ability to grow up to 16 inches long, rats also have other differences like larger haws and smaller ears. Plus, rats are usually brown or black in color. Finally, their tails are thick and scaly instead of long and thin.
Either rodent can invade your home, but the good news is they rarely invade a home together. Rats and mice have different nesting habits for starters. Plus, rats are extremely territorial in times of scarcity to the point they’ll kill mice. As such, the two species usually give each other a wide berth.
Rodents Are Dangerous For Texas Homes
A rodent infestation regardless of the species is always bad news thanks to the dangers they both present for homeowners. To start, both rats and mice cause a lot of property damage thanks to a permanent need to chew everything in sight to keep their teeth from growing too long. As such, things like chewed wires, insulation, and new holes are all too common.
Besides property damage, the real concern with an infestation is the potential health threat they pose. Both of them are known to transmit several diseases like rat-bite fever, hantavirus, bubonic plague, and a lot more. To make matters worse, they’re also known as carriers for ticks and fleas, which only increases the number of diseases that could be transmitted to unsuspecting humans. Plus, they carry parasites like ticks and fleas making it possible for even more diseases to be transmitted.
Finally, there is one more reason why rats and mice are dangerous. You’ll never experience a small number of them. They can fit through the smallest of openings and reproduce rapidly, which can lead to becoming easily overwhelmed if they’re left unchecked for too long.
DIY(do it yourself) Yes Or No?
At this point, you might be thinking of grabbing every at-home method of controlling the rodent population in your home. While you will enjoy some success, it’s ultimately a losing battle for several reasons. Let’s take a look at some common approaches:
- Traps: Unlike a lot of other pests, both mice and rats are highly intelligent with good instincts. This translates to them avoiding most of your traps and poisons. While you’ll eliminate some of them, it’s merely a fraction of the total population.
- Poisons: This also is less than fully effective since they can detect what has happened to their buddy. Plus, it’s often difficult to find the mouse or rat that’s been poisoned, leaving you with a horrible smell in the home.
Rodent Prevention With Innovative Pest Control
It’s simply not worth the time and money invested to try controlling the rodent population on your own. Instead, trust in the team at Innovative Pest Control to handle your rodent problem. We’ll inspect for evidence of an infestation, determine a treatment plan, and get you to a rodent-free home that stays that way. Call us today at Innovative Pest Control to request your free, no-obligation pest inspection!
Categories:
- Rats in Texas
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