Common Rodent and Rat Varieties
Common Rodent Varieties:
Norway Rat (Rattus Norvegicus, Warf rat, Brown Rat): Medium sized, chunky, small/sturdy ears, tail shorter than the body/pink/scaly, Blunt/broad muzzle, good swimmer, prefers ground dwelling, basements, sewers, crawlspaces, under slabs.
Roof Rat (Rattus Rattus, Black Rat, Ship Rat): Medium sized, slender, large/creased ears, tail longer than the body/gray, narrow muzzle, agile climber, doesn’t like swimming, prefers attics, rafters, forms runways along pipes, wires, beams.
House Mouse (Mus Musculus): small 3-4 inches, 3-4” tail, large ears, long/thin tail as long or longer than body, small triangular head, narrow/sharp muzzle, small feet.
Deer Mice: (Peromyscus)
Hanta Virus: Carried primarily through deer mice
For more information on the Hanta Virus visit:
- Centers for Disease Control: Hanta Virus - What You Need To Know
Helpful Rodent Prevention Tips:
Exclusion of Rodent entry points:
- Fill entry points larger than ¼” or larger, or pencil width under a door.
- Repair crawlspace access doors and/or covers to make tight fitting
- Repair crawlspace vent screens that are not secure or have holes
- Repair gaps in trim, siding, skirting
- Repair gaps under doors and damaged door seals
- Fill holes for plumbing, gas lines and wiring
- Screen sewer, drain pipes
- Trim back foliage near building or roof
- Keep garbage picked up and stored in tightly sealed containers. Rodents can gnaw through plastic so metal or thick/hard plastics are preferred.
- Keep stored foods, pet food and lawn/bird seed in plastic or metal containers with tight lids.
- Clean up dirty dishes and spilled foods right away.
- Clean BBQ grills and keep area clean.
- Remove pet bowls immediately after use. Clean up any spilled food and bring in water dishes over night.
- Remove bird feeders: they attract rodents as well as the scattered seeds that drop on the ground.
- Keep compost far away from the house.
- Remove overripe produce from under fruit trees and gardens.
- Clean up pet feces and seal pet doors at night.
- Trim foliage back away from buildings, trim thick foliage near buildings
- Keep lawns mowed
- Eliminate stored items near buildings. Rodents will burrow under anything left on the ground.
- Routine rodent maintenance to keep rodent populations managed.
- Consider crawlspace cleanouts for bad infestations.
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