There are many animals considered rodents, for our purposes we will discuss the general categories of mice and rats
Rats and mice have been part of the human experience since the beginning. Our habits make us ideal living "partners" for them, without trying, we provide food, shelter and nesting material aplenty. They have moved about the globe with us for centuries, spreading disease, eating and contaminating our food supplies, damaging homes, businesses and lives as they go. More than 10 million people have died from rodent borne diseases.
Both mice and rats are prolific breeders and rapidly increase their numbers if no control measures are taken. A combination of increased sanitation, structural adjustments, baiting and/or trapping, is needed to tip the scale in our favor.
You hear noises in the wall, what is it ? and what do you do? Go through this simple check list and by process of elimination you may be able to figure it out - if not, you can always call us! The Bug Runner can take care of all types of rodents.
How do you tell the difference if it's mice, rats or something else?
Telltale signs of Mice
squeaking, scratching, gnawing and /or scurrying sounds in the attic, ceiling or walls - always at night
droppings (mouse poop) often found in drawers and around stovetop burners, they are small and can be mistaken for crumbs - they look to be the size and shape of caraway seeds
small holes chewed in boxes or bags in the pantry, food chewed on counters or in cabinets
chewed areas on wood or electrical wiring
nesting sites - shredded fabric, insulation, paper and string are favorite nesting materials
mouse food "storage" - seeds, nuts, pet food or other foods found in attic, or other nook or cranny
pets getting excited or sitting and staring at the wall or appliance for no apparent reason
mice are small (compared to rats) about 2 1/2 - 4 inches not including the tail
Signs of Rats - (many are the same as mice but more or larger)
louder noises- scratching, chewing scurrying - always at night
bigger chew marks
bigger droppings
larger holes chewed through wood or electrical wiring, holes not only in cardboard but heavier plastic
rat food "storage" - seeds, nuts, pet food or other foods found in attic, or other nook or cranny
pets getting excited or sitting and staring at the wall or appliance for no apparent reason
outdoor burrows (holes in the ground where they live)
rats are big (compared to mice) about 4 - 8 inches not including the tail
Squirrels ( yes they're rodents too)
scurrying, scratching sometimes sounds like a ball rolling around in the attic (usually noisier than mice)
sounds are in early morning or early evening
nesting materials in attic (shredded fabric or insulation)
food storage- nuts etc. in attic
Raccoons (not rodents but can get into attics)
Nocturnal - so noises at night - loud - sounds like a person walking around
if your problem fits the squirrel or raccoon descriptionclick here
Baiting and Trapping
The Bug Runner provides service to control rodents involving the use of poison baits. When used indoors these baits are placed in areas likely to be visited by the rodents yet inaccessible to children or pets (attic spaces, crawl spaces, drop ceilings etc). If rat burrows are located outside, these are baited as well. In areas where safety of bait use may be compromised, tamper-proof bait stations or some type of trap may be used. The exact approach is chosen by the technician and based on the treatment site's individual configurations and needs. Please note: Baiting and trapping will offer only temporary control and should be used in conjunction with the previously described sanitation and mechanical alterations.
Mice can jump from a height of 12 feet without injury, rats an amazing 50 feet!
Rats and mice can walk wires and other thin objects without falling (considering fact #1 falling's not much of an issue anyway)
Rats and mice can climb straight up on any surface with enough texture to grip with their tiny little toes
Mice can squeeze through 1/4 inch spaces
Mice can jump straight up at least 12 inches
Rats can jump 3 feet high with a running start
Rats can jump a horizontal distance of 18 feet!
Rats can gnaw through cement
Some rats can swim up to 3 days without drowning!
Rats and mice will eat their young when food is scarce
Rats can lift the lid off a can if it is not tight fitting
Rats, mice and squirrels can cause fires by chewing on electrical wiring
If a rat gets it's foot caught in a trap it can chew it's own leg off
Rats will make nesting burrows in planters
Those stories about rats coming in through the toilet bowl.. they're true!
Sanitation and Mechanical Alteration is the first step in rodent control
Eliminate food and water sources. Clean up thoroughly and often. Spilled food, beverages, garbage, pet food or grain will attract rodents. Bird seed debris under feeders is another overlooked food source
Keep garbage in tightly closed, metal cans. Keep the cans and their surroundings clean and neat
Make sure all windows, doors (including garage), vents and screens close snugly and are kept closed, especially at night
Seal all entry points of wires, pipes and utility lines
Keep all vegetation, shrubs, plants and trees trimmed back away from the building
Clean up debris, rubbish from your property. Overgrowth and debris around and under plantings should be cleared out as well, all these areas provide harborage sites for burrows and shelter for rodents to move about
Check and clean storage areas periodically (pantries, attics, garages, utility rooms). Undisturbed storage space allows rodents to nest and breed in safety. Rotate pantry stock so that no areas sit unmoved for any period of time. Stacked firewood is a perfect rodent habitat. Rotate old wood to the front or top when restocking, in the same manner you rotate the panty stock
Rodent droppings can carry the Hantavirus. This can be transmitted when droppings become friable (dry enough for fragments to become airborne) and the particles are inhaled. This can happen when handling droppings, dead rodents or their nesting materials. Although this disease is rare, it is fatal, therefore precautions should be taken when dealing with droppings and other rodent debris.
Use rubber gloves
Mist area with a disinfectant cleaner prior to contact
Use paper towels to wipe up the moistened droppings and/or urine marks
Dispose of towels used during cleaning in a sealed plastic bag
Dampen any nesting materials or dead rodents with the disinfectant and dispose of them in the same manner
The Bug Runner Exterminating Co. Inc. 680 North Main Street Spring Valley New York 10977
Serving Commercial and Residential Customers in Rockland , Orange and Bergen Counties since 1968
