Because rodents and pests surround our homes, the last thing we need to feel is that we are at their mercy. As homeowners, we need to control what enters our homes, and when rodents invade our personal space, we have lost control.
If rodents are in your house, regain control by securing pest control in Lake Oconee/Greensboro from American Pest Control. We have removed rodents and protected homes, health, and property since 1971. As a QualityPro-certified company that meets or exceeds state and federal pest control regulations, you can rest assured that we have the best technicians in the industry.
When you contact us, the technician who answers your call, and listens to your concern, will be the same one who will resolve your rodent problem. In other words, your technician will be at your side from the beginning of the process to the end, walking with you every step of the way.
This article will give you the insight you need to help you in your quest to gain control over the rodent population in your home, so please keep reading.
How To Identify Common Types Of Rodents
Rodents are similar to other warm-blooded mammals because they have furry bodies, tails, two eyes, ears, and a tail, but the distinguishing feature is the pair of upper and lower incisor teeth. These constantly growing teeth require trimming, or they will become unmanageable and prevent the animal from eating. Rodents shorten their teeth by gnawing on wood, metal, plastic, concrete, and glass. Grinding on these objects not only keeps their teeth manageable but sharpens them and enables the rodent to chew holes through walls and floors in your house.
There are two types of rodents: wildlife and commensal. Commensal rodents are those that invade and continue to live inside Lake Oconee/Greensboro homes, and common offenders in our area include the following:
- Norway rats
- Roof rats
- House mice
- White-footed mice
- Deer mice
Here is a brief description of the commensal rodents so you can identify the species infesting your house.
The largest commensal rodent infesting Lake Oconee/Greensboro homes is the Norway rat. Also called sewer or street rats, these rats have plump bodies with brown fur interspersed with black hairs on the topside and a grey-to-white belly. Including the scaly tail, Norway rats are 16 inches in length. These rats prefer to live in the basement and lower levels of a house underneath debris piles. Although Norway rats eat anything, they are especially fond of dog food.
Roof rats have the same length and coloration as Norway rats but have slender, lighter bodies (about five to nine ounces). As their name suggests, these rats prefer to live in attics and upper levels of the house underneath insulation and clutter. Roof rats, sometimes called black rats or ship rats, eat everything but are especially fond of fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts.
Mice are smaller than rats, and the house mouse is the most common of the three types of mice on our list. These 5 to 7-inch mice have a round body, dusty grey topside, and cream-colored belly. When they invade a Lake Oconee/Greensboro home, they create ball-like nests from paper, fabric, insulation, and other materials in secluded areas of the house. Although they will eat anything, mice prefer grain products.
The white-footed mouse has about a 4-inch light to reddish brown body with an additional 2 to 4-inch tail. These rats are called white-footed due to the white hairs on their underside and feet. Whilte-footed mice build nests in warm, dry areas of the house. At night they forage for seeds, berries, insects, and any other edible item inside the home.
Deer mice are often identified as white-footed mice because they share the same body colors and white feet. Two ways to distinguish between the two species is their feet and tail. Deer mice have short legs, whereas white-footed mice have larger-sized hind legs. Also, there is a sharp contrast in color between the top and bottom of a deer mouse's tail, but there is less of a difference on a white-footed mouse's tail. Both species have the same nesting foraging habits.
If you have rodents in your Lake Oconee/Greensboro home, you need American Pest Control. Our highly-trained technicians can identify the signs of either a rat or mouse infestation.
Why Effective Rodent Control Is So Important
Rodent control is necessary for several reasons. First, rodents spread disease-causing pathogens. Rats and mice forage in sewers, drains, trash, compost piles, over animal feces, and other breeding grounds for viruses, bacteria, and parasitic worms. As they move through these areas, pathogens on the surfaces stick to their oily fur. Because rodents don't have good eyesight, they bump against items and objects as they move in the dark through homes. When they scrape against things in the house, the disease-causing organism in their fur transfer to them. When an unsuspecting homeowner touches the tainted surfaces, the pathogens can infect their body.
Leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, salmonellosis, jaundice, and cowpox virus are diseases rats carry. Mice carry similar viruses and bacteria, plus hantavirus, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM).
When the rodents forage in tainted areas, fleas, ticks, mites, and lice jump or crawl onto their bodies. These parasitic insects carry some of the same diseases as rodents, plus murine typhus, bartonellosis, tapeworm, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and more.
Another reason to remove these rodents in Georgia is they can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions. Itchy eyes, runny nose, breathing difficulties, coughing, etc., are caused by dried, airborne articles from rodent feces circulation in the home.
As we previously learned, rodents must gnaw on objects to keep their constantly-growing incisor teeth trimmed. Inside homes, rodents often create nests in wall voids, behind cabinets, inside appliances, and underneath attic insulation. Electrical and internet wiring runs through many of these locations. Since rodents constantly chew on objects, they often eat away the protective coating on wires exposing them to moisture and other exposed wire. As a result, rodents short-circuit appliances and are responsible for initiating house fires.
Protect your family against diseases and allergic reactions by securing rodent control in Lake Oconee/Greensboro from American Pest Control. We remove rodents reducing the risk of illness inside the home; we stop rodents from harming appliances and wiring inside your house.
Simple Rodent Exclusion Tips That Work
American Pest Control will remove all rodents from inside your house, and once we complete the removal, you certainly do not want them to return. The following are simple ways to keep rodents out of your Lake Oconee/Greensboro home:
- Seal dime-size holes and gaps in the foundation, roofline, incoming pipes, and wires with steel wool or an impenetrable compound
- Cover the crawl space and attic vents with 1/4-inch wire mesh
- Install a spark arrester over the chimney opening
- Place self-closing flaps over dryer vent openings
- Install door sweeps under all exterior doors
- Prune tree branches and shrubs away from the house
- Fix loose mortar and seals around window and door frames
Maintaining a clean, dry property will deter rodents from residing in your yard and in the house. Keep indoor and outdoor garbage cans closed and compost materials in sealed containers.
When your personal technician from American Pest Control arrives to inspect the property to get rid of rodents, we can give you other exclusion suggestions for your location.
The Pros To Know For The Best Rodent Control In Lake Oconee/Greensboro
American Pest Control provides home pest control in Lake Oconee/Greensboro. When you contact us, you will connect to the technician who will stop the infestation. When the qualified, vetted technician arrives at your house, he will inspect your home to identify infestation signs, entry points, attractants, and hot spots. Based on the investigation and interview data, we will create a strategic plan that uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. This method targets the specific species, requires careful use of traps, baits, and products, and focuses on future prevention and exclusion.
Because we are a QualityPro-certified pest control company with more than 50 years of experience, you can enjoy peace of mind using our services. All technicians are highly-trained, background checked, attend monthly continuing education meetings, and uphold the highest standards in the pest control industry. Contact us today to learn more about our rodent pest control programs and schedule your free inspection.