Deer Mice
Pest Stats | |
---|---|
Color: | Brown, with white feet and underbelly |
Legs: | 4 |
Shape: | Round |
Size: | 5 to 8 inches long |
Antennae: | No |
Region: | Found throughout U.S. |
The deer mouse is found in rural areas and rarely invades residential homes. Deer mice are of medical concern because they are common carriers of Hantavirus.
Mice And Rats In Seattle Area
- Mice and rats are extremely destructive in any structure
- Though rodents thrive in old structures where sanitation is poor, they can infest any structure
- Mice and rats reproduce extremely fast and compete with other kinds of scavengers such as birds for resources
- They can dig long tunnels to access shelter and food
- Most mice and rats are not afraid of climbing and can survive a fifty feet fall. They can travel over tree branches and power lines
- Rodents transmit the Bubonic Plaque and contaminate homes with bacteria, waste and urine
Types of mice and rats found in homes in Seattle Area
a.Norway Rats
- These are the biggest rats found in the Pacific Northwest region with their weight exceeding a pound
- Their tails are shorter and looks like it is two-toned by the rodent’s haired skin
- It tends to be darker than other rat species with its color ranging from reddish brown to grayish brown
- It reproduces throughout the year but mostly in fall and are nocturnal
- This rat species is accustomed to Seattle’s city life feeding on anything that people eat
- As scavengers, Norway rats nest close to or in the ground and are common in crawl spaces beneath homes
b.Roof Rats
- These mice and rat species are smaller in size and more swift than Norway rats
- A mature roof rat weight around half a pound and has a long tail, longer ears and pointing snout
- They are light greyish in color and are picky when it comes to feeding and mostly opt for nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, insects and inorganic substances like paper and soap.
- They tend to nest on elevated places such as loft spaces or trees.
- Roof rats are active during the night and are rarely seen during the day
c.House mouse
- These are destructive in homes because they contaminate and chew different parts of a structure.
- Compared to other rats, they are much tiny especially the feet and head.
- House mice tend to drop waste as they go about.
- Their belly is light in color and their hair and skin color ranges from black to light brown.
- This mice and rat species tends to reproduce very fast and is highly mobile fitting into tiny spaces getting into rooftops and attics.
- Once they gain access to a home, they use interior walls and pipe chases to move from one point to the other, feeding on anything along their path
d.Deer mouse
- These have a two-toned look with a light underbelly and a mostly bi-colored tail
- They are common in Seattle and reach about 7 inches in length
- They have a small frame making it easier for them to sneak through tiny spaces
- They are good jumpers and swift runners
- They have sharp teeth and eat about anything including hard shells and vegetables
How to keep mice and rats out of Homes
- Mice and rats may be controlled by conducting inspection to identify points that they use to access the home
- Exclusion by correcting the holes or gaps identified by the inspection procedure
- Trapping any mice and rats left inside the structure after blocking all access points
- Using exterior baiting to control the population of mice and rats outside the home
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