Blog
Mice And Rats In Honolulu
9/23/13
Rodents are common pests that enter Honolulu homes and businesses. The two most common types of rodents in Hawaii are mice and rats, and while they have a few similar characteristics, there are some major differences between the two. Rodents, including the common house mouse, the roof rat, the Norway rat and the Polynesian rat take advantage of small holes or gaps on the exterior of homes to sneak into structures. You see, rodents are commensal pests which means that they in part require humans to survive. More specifically they need us for food and shelter which is why they attempt to move inside if there is access. Another commonality is that mice and rats both have incisors (continuously growing teeth) and in order to prevent them from overgrowing, they must constantly gnaw on objects to keep them worn down. Because of this, mice and rats can cause a lot of damage to the structures of your home including the objects inside of it.
Despite the many similarities mice and rats do have differences which can help to determine which species is invading your home. The differences between rats and mice include:
-
Rats are much larger than mice. Rats grow to 9-11 inches in length, not including their tail and mice grow to 2.5 – 4 inches in length, not including their tail.
-
Rats are very cautious and mice are curious and will crawl throughout your home.
-
A mouse’s snout is triangular in shape; a rat’s snout is a more round shape.
-
Mice have 5 pairs of nipples; rats have 6 pairs of nipples.
-
Mice droppings are about 1/8 of an inch in length and are pointed at both ends; rat droppings are about 5/8 of an inch in length and more curved.
Having rodents enter your home can be dangerous for the structures and the health and safety of you and your family. When it comes to an infestation, it is not a mice vs. rats issue. No matter which species, a rodent infestation needs to be taken care of quickly with the help of a Honolulu exterminator. Mice and rats will gnaw through pipes, insulation, and electrical wires which can lead to water and mold damage in your home along with the threat of an electrical fire. They will also destroy personal property like books, photos, boxes, bedding and other items. As they move throughout your home from their nesting area to their food sources, they can leave behind urine and feces on counters, floors, drawers, cabinets and in food itself; this can cause serious health consequences for everyone living in the home. Rodents also spread bacteria that may spread diseases like Salmonellosis, Leptospirosis, and Dysentery. And if that wasn’t enough, they can also bring in other pests into the home like fleas and ticks which will cause a whole separate set of problems for your household.
Implementing a home pest control plan from a Honolulu pest control company will not only get rid of any current problems with rodents and other household pests but will also help to control them year round and insure that no other infestations occur. A pest control plan generally includes an initial visit followed up by preventative treatments throughout the year, and with a guarantee of return if anything should come up between visits. Having a regular pest control service in place will give you the peace of mind that your home and family are safe from pests and their damages.
Along with a home pest control plan there are things that as a homeowner you can do around your home to help make sure that rodents will not enter; these things include:
-
Sealing cracks along the foundation, even very small ones.
-
Caulk gaps found around your home’s doors and windows.
-
Seal off around the openings where utilities enter your home.
-
Keep a tight fitting cap on your chimney.
-
Food that pets have not eaten should be picked up within a short time period.
-
Keep garbage stored in containers with a tight fitting lid away from the exterior of your home.
-
Keep food off of your counters; store fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator and dry goods in sealed containers.
-
Keeping clutter to a minimum to limit the number of hiding places that they have access to.
If you are having problems with mice or rats or any other pests on your Honolulu home, don’t put off getting rid of them for another day. Contact your local pest control company and evict those unwanted houseguests today. Click here to speak with the Honolulu pest control experts at Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions.