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

There are three common pest rodents in Pasadena, Maryland. Can you name them? Did you guess: Rats, mice, and squirrels? If so, you hit the nail right on the head. These are the troublemakers. They come into our yards, damage plants, dig holes, gnaw on building materials, and spread diseases. Join us as we give you a quick rundown of each of these rodents and share with you what you need to know most about them. Then, we'll look at effective rodent control and how to keep rodents out of your home after they're gone. As always, if you have questions about pest control in Pasadena, or you'd like to schedule service for your home, reach out to us at any time. We're here to help. Now, let's take a look at those rodents!

Common Rodent Species: Identifying Different Types Of Rodents

When rats, mice, and squirrels enter your yard, how do you keep those backyard rodents from becoming indoor pests? The secret is knowledge—well, knowledge and a little elbow grease—but mostly knowledge. Let's look at the common rodent pests of Pasadena and what they do on your property.

Mice: There are a few common mice in our region. The two you should know about are house mice and deer mice. House mice have a dark gray coat with a white underbelly. Deer mice have the tawny coloration of a deer on top and white on the underside. The difference between these two mice is that house mice prefer to live indoors and deer mice tend to infest exterior structures such as sheds and barns. Both of these mice are tiny rodents that can squeeze through gaps that are less than half an inch in diameter. When they get inside, mice can live on crumbs. But they don't even need to find a crumb in your home. They can feed on seeds and other natural food sources just outside your home.

Rats: There are two common rats in our region. Norway rats are brown rats that burrow in the ground and hide under sheds. Roof rats are black rats that climb trees, get onto roofs, and invade attics. Both of these rats can invade your home. When they do, they're going to search for robust food sources, like dried pet food, meats, and cheeses. They often get into trash to find a meal. They'll also dine on mice as needed. A mouse infestation can give rise to a rat infestation. But you'll never have both infesting your home at the same time. Rats are big rodents that can use a gap as thin as the width of a quarter to enter your home.

Squirrels: The common squirrels in our region are tree squirrels. You see them exploring your backyard, climbing up trees, and running along power lines. If you're not familiar with squirrels, they are the rodents with the bushy tails. They're also the only rodents on this list that are active during the day. If squirrels invade your home, they'll likely stay in your attic. They don't tend to explore every level of a home the way a rat or mouse will.

As you can see, each of these rodents is somewhat different. Understanding differences can help you with your efforts to control them. We will look at rodent control in a moment. First, let's turn our attention to the potential dangers of having rodents invade.

Rodent Dangers: Health Risks And Property Damage

When rats, mice, or squirrels get into your home, even if it is just in your attic, they can cause a lot of trouble. Even a tiny mouse can be a big problem. The reason rodents present a danger to health and property is linked to their behavior patterns.

Rodents often find a meal in garbage cans. In unsanitary places, they pick up harmful bacteria associated with stomach illness.
Rats and certain mice can get into sewers, making them even more unsanitary. In these places, they pick up bacteria and disease pathogens.
Rodents have long incisors that continually grow. Rats, mice, and squirrels must file these teeth down. One way they do this is by gnawing on things. Their gnawing behavior can bring them into your home. It can also cause them to accidentally damage your home and the belongings inside.
Rodents are expert climbers and will go up and down through wall voids. As they move about, they gnaw on wood and wires. If a wire is cut, it can spark a house fire.
Rodents are wild animals. They are not trained to go outside to do their business. Inside your attic, wall voids, pantry, and kitchen cabinets, they can leave their droppings. These are a source of illness.
In nature, rodents pick up ticks and fleas. When they enter your home, they bring these parasites in with them. Ticks and fleas are associated with a long list of diseases.

In light of the many ways rats, mice, and sometimes squirrels, can impact your health and damage your property, it is best to get professional rodent pest control when these animals invade. Let's take a look at why professional rodent control is the best and safest way to deal with an infestation.

Professional Rodent Control: The Safe Way To Remove An Infestation

We've discussed many traits and behavior patterns rodents have that make them harmful pests. They also have traits and behavior patterns that make them hard to control. Here are a few you should consider before you attempt DIY rodent control.

Rats and mice breed quickly. As you work to remove them from your home, they will create new offspring to replace what you've caught. One female mouse can produce 32 to 56 pups in just one year!
Rats and mice are smart animals that can eat the food on a trap latch or move quickly out of the way when the hammer falls.
Rats and mice aren't going to let you capture them if they can help it. They're known to survive by chewing a limb off when they are caught in a trap.
Rats, mice, and squirrels can chew holes to escape your home when you trap them inside with exclusion work. It is critical to address the rodents in your home before sealing all of the entry points.
If you have rodents in your home, it is almost a certainty that you have rodent pressures in your yard. These animals live in groups. Rodent control must consider population management in your yard.

When dealing with rodents, it pays to hire a professional. A pest control technician has training in the control and management of each of these pests. They know the most trusted products and methods and possess field experience. When rodents do something unexpected, they know how to detect it and make alterations to the control program. More than anything else, your technician understands the traits and behavior patterns of rodents and will use a comprehensive plan to remove the rodents in your home without allowing them to do unexpected things and outsmart the control plan.

Are you in Pasadena, Maryland? If so, you're in our service area. Contact Accutech Pest Management for professional rodent control or wildlife management. We can address your rat or mouse infestation and live trap any squirrels that have found their way into your attic. Jump to our contact page for assistance.

Rodent Prevention Tips: How to Keep Your Property Rodent-Free

Once all the rodents are gone, what is next? It is time to use the knowledge you've picked up today. DIY rodent control in Pasadena is all about altering conditions that attract rodents and provide entry into your home. Here are some quick tips to reduce rodent activity and block access.

Rodents get into your trash, so make sure to keep your trash covered. It is also important to clean your receptacles to remove the odor of the trash inside. Rats and mice track the scent of decaying organic matter and run toward it.
Rodents eat nuts. If you have trees that drop acorns or other nuts, it is essential to rake those nuts up and store them in covered containers. If you put peanuts out for the squirrels, keep in mind that rats and mice eat those nuts too.
Rodents eat seeds. If you have bird feeders on your property, you'll attract more than pretty birds. It is important to keep bird feeders well away from your exterior walls. You may also try attaching the feeders atop slippery poles. A material, like sheet metal, is unscaleable for rodents because they can't get a claw hold and it is too strong for a rodent to pierce the surface of the material.
Examine your exterior and patch any holes or gaps you find. Expanding foam can get the job done. Keep in mind that while rats and mice can chew through this material, they aren't likely to do so if they don't see a tiny hole they can make larger.

When you control food sources and remove tiny openings for rats and mice to exploit, you'll have a good chance of keeping them out of your home. Be sure to also trim branches away from your roofline so that squirrels don't get the wrong idea. These simple steps can have a big impact. When more control is needed, contact a professional. For assistance in Pasadena, reach out to Accutech Pest Management. We're here to help!

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"I live in a row house and both my neighbors have rat problems. Thankfully they are not in the house. Accutech responded very quickly to my request to come out and check my house for entrance points and put out baits to give me piece of mind. They are great to work with and always go that extra mile."