Rodent Rundown: Keeping These Dangerous Pests Away From Your Lewisville Property

Rodents are warm-blooded furry animals that have a pair of upper and lower incisor teeth that are growing constantly. Some rodents are wild animals that are seldom an issue for Lewisville homeowners, but that is not so with rats and mice because they do not mind sharing the same space with humans. Three rats and one mouse species are problematic for most Lewisville homeowners: Norway, roof and wood rats, and house mice. 

Norway rats have a 7 to 9 1/2-inch brown long, round body (not including the 7 to 9-inch scaly tail) with black hairs interspersed throughout their fur. They also have a blunt muzzle, small ears and eyes, and a grey or white belly. Norway rats live in basements and the ground level inside the home. As their name suggests, roof rats live in attics and the upper levels of homes. 

Compared to Norway rats, roof rats have shorter and slender bodies and large ears and eyes; they have the same fur color and tails about the same length. Wood rats are the same size as Norway rats but are distinguishable by their hairy tails, large ears, and softer fur. These rats don't typically invade Lewisville homes but are problematic outdoors around the property. 

House mice are significantly smaller than rats. These rodents have a 2 1/2 to 3 3/4-inch dusty grey round body, a 2 3/4 to 4-inch tail, and a cream-colored belly. These rodents create nests using fabrics, insulation, paper, and other materials in dark, secluded areas. Now that we have identified common rodents, let's look at the signs they leave behind. 

Droppings are the most noticeable indicator because rats and mice constantly produce feces. One rat will deposit 25,000 droppings, and a mouse will produce 18,000 droppings annually. Look for rod-shaped droppings with blunt or pointed ends along walls, under appliances, inside kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and in dark corners of the house. In addition to droppings, rats and mice urinate as they travel over kitchen countertops, cooking surfaces, inside kitchen cabinets, and throughout the house. Large infestations usually result in a musty odor due to the putrid urine. 

Rodents sharpen and shorten their incisor teeth by chewing on furniture, wiring, plastic, paper, concrete, and aluminum. Rats chew holes in floors and walls, so one way to distinguish between a rat and mice infestation is if you notice two to three-inch circular holes close to walls.

Rats and mice have oil fur that attracts dirt, mud, and disease-causing organisms in the sewers, drains, trash and compost piles, and other unsanitary areas where they forage. As they move through a Lewisville home and bump against walls, objects, and corners (due to their poor eyesight), they leave behind semi-sticky smug marks full of bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms.

Mice and rats create nests in walls, inside or underneath appliances and cabinets using shredded paper, clothing, and insulation. Sounds emanating from walls and under the floor in the early morning or late evening hours are another indication that rats or mice are present inside your home.  

Rats and mice create pathways between food sources and their nests. Droppings, stains, discarded foods, and chew marks outline these runways. To further confirm a suspected trail, shine a black light in the area to reveal urine stains. Another way to verify a rodent's path is to sprinkle talcum powder to show their four and five-toed footprints.

Adams Exterminating service technicians know the signs of a rodent infestation, can determine what rodent species infests your home and will create a plan for their quick removal.