San Tan Valley's Ultimate Rodent Prevention Guide

What was that? Did you see something scurry into the corner of the basement? Or was that your mind playing tricks on you? If you’ve ever experienced a rodent infestation, it can be very easy to get paranoid. However, it can also be easy to brush it off for another time. After all, you’re incredibly busy taking care of your family, running your household, making money, and trying to stay healthy all at once. But what you need to understand is how rodents are a direct threat to all four of those goals, especially when it comes to mice and rats.

Understanding The Difference

How can you tell if you’ve got a mice problem or a rat problem? And why does it matter? Well, there’s a big difference between the two (about 3 to 6 inches in length of difference, to be exact). Mice are usually 3 inches long at the most, not including the tail, while rats, depending on the species, can measure from 5 to 9.5 inches, not including the tail. Also, the mice in the San Tan Valley area are typically white to tan in color, or light grey, while the rats are a darker grey or brown color.

Another huge difference between these two types of rodents is their intelligence levels. Mice are not exactly the brightest bulbs in the drawer, so they’re easily tricked or trapped.  Rats, on the other hand, can smell a trick coming a mile away. They are very aware of their surrounding environment and will use their cunning minds to out-whit any threat. Now, mice might be the less intelligent the two, but they breed more rapidly. So, if you have a few mice scurrying within your walls, you will soon have dozens more.

A Threat That Can’t Be Ignored

Whether you’re talking about mice or rats, you cannot let an infestation of any size go unchecked. Each of these can cause costly damage to your home and belongings. You see, Mice have very sharp teeth that can chew holes through walls, linens, clothing, and even furniture, and they’ll chew through almost anything they need to in order to gain access to food or water. Rats, on the other hand, have a habit or chewing through electrical wiring, leaving messy droppings everywhere, and posing a threat to your stored food supplies.
 
The droppings will be a giveaway when you’re trying to decide whether you’ve got mice or rats. (You rarely have both at the same time). Mice droppings are the length of a grain of rice, while rat droppings are darker in color and the length of a fingernail.
 
No matter which type of rodent you have, prevention is key. Along with damage to your home, these pests are a severe threat to your health. Before they enter your home, they typically have spent time in a sewer, a landfill, or a dumpster, picking up a variety of dangerous bacteria. They’ll spread this bacteria to the clothes in your drawer, your food-preparation surfaces, the linens in your closet, and anything else they come in contact with, leaving you vulnerable to dangerous diseases. Their urine and feces contain bacteria that are harmful to humans. You do not want these pests in your home for long.

Prevention Practices

Once you’ve incurred an infestation, these pests are very difficult to get rid of (or to keep out in the first place). Rats rely on their intelligence to find a way in, while mice rely on their sharp teeth and unique ability to squeeze through small openings. Plus both pests are prolific and can reproduce at a rapid rate within your home. Traps and poison might get a few rodents, but you can hardly ever eradicate an entire infestation of rodents with DIY methods. For guaranteed results every time, your best bet is to go with the professionals. The total rodent control services at Ozone Pest Control have satisfied San Tan Valley customers for years with their effectiveness and affordability. Give us a call at the first sign of infestation.