Most Common Types Of Rodents That Invade Arizona Homes
How To Get Rid Of Rodents & Keep Your Home Safe?
Home rodents are usually a nightmare for anyone. It’s easy to find many rodents capable of destroying multiple things in their path, especially if you are in Arizona. From black rats to deer mice, today you will discover the most common rodents in Arizona.
Before contacting a pest control company in Ahwatukee, it never hurts to take precautions while maintaining hygiene and order in your home. Continue reading to know more.
What Are The Most Common Arizona Rodents?
Your house in Arizona is a nice shelter for many rats and mice. They find your house attractive because it gives them access to water, food, and warmth. You could end up sharing your home with any of these rodents without noticing.
These are the most popular in Arizona:
Pack Rat
Packrats, also known as wood rats, are common in central Arizona areas. They build different chambers around the house for food, debris, sleeping, and more. Once they’re inside your home, they’ll build a nest inside the wall or in your attic.
You can differentiate these rats from others because of their tails. Like other rodents, woodrats are covered in fur, except for their tails. However, their tails aren’t as long as other urban rats.
House Mouse
House mice depend on humans for shelter and food, so they are common in Arizona homes.
This type of mouse likes to hide in dark places, especially cabinets and storage boxes, where they can build their nests. Their fur is gray, but they usually have a whitish tone underbelly.
Many Gilbert pest removal services can help you get rid of other rodents like house mice, but be sure to contact them as soon as you see one.
Roof Rat
Roof rats are also known as black rats, and as the name implies, they are long and dark in color, so they are easy to differentiate from other rats.
They also have the common hairless tail you find on other rats. You can find them in the upper levels of your Arizona house, especially the ceiling and the attic.
You must be careful with these rats because they can climb trees. In other words, they can enter your house without touching the ground (making them harder to detect).
Deer Mouse
Deer mice are much more dangerous than house mice because they carry hantavirus. In other words, you could end up in the hospital by breathing dust particles that have come in contact with their droppings.
Deer mice build their nests in bushes and tall trees, but they can enter your home in search of food. Plus, they can move their nest inside if they feel the place is more comfortable.
These mice are brown, deer-like coloring, so they are not difficult to tell apart from other mouse species.
Contact a Glendale pest control company as soon as you see rodents at home, otherwise, the pest could get worse.
How Can I Know What Type Of Rodent I Have At Home?
House rodents like mice and rats leave the same telltale signs. You can tell there are rodents at home if you notice any of these:
- Animal droppings
- Chew holes, especially on food packaging. In that case, do not eat the food!
- Foul smells
- Rodent runways and nests
Once you notice these signs, it’s time to see if you have a mouse or a rat at home.
Differences Between Mice & Rats
You can tell a mouse and rat apart by remembering these differences:
- Mice are much smaller than rats. They are between 2 to 4 inches long, while rats can get to 10 inches long.
- Mice have larger ears compared to the rest of their bodies.
- Mice droppings are ¼ of an inch long, while rats’ droppings are ¾ of an inch long.
- Rats prefer to bite food like meat, while mice prefer grains and seeds.
What To Do If I Spot A Rodent At Home?
If you see any of these signs, you may have a rodent at home. Get in touch with an Arizona pest control company or a professional pest control technician immediately to get rid of the pest. Living with rats or mice can be extremely dangerous, so make sure to get rid of them as soon as possible.
This article is courtesy of Varsity Termite & Pest Control, Arizona’s 5-star rated pest control company. They offer cost-effective rodent control, preventive pest control, and complete pest home control.
Published by – Gopher Guy AZ