Rodent Identification & Prevention

Rodents are a diverse group of small mammals. Some rodent species have become regular visitors to our North Carolina homes and businesses and have learned the benefits of living near people. Some of the most common species in our region are the house mouse, roof rat, and Norway rat.

Adult house mice are smaller in size than adult rats. House mice are usually gray, black, or brown, with lighter fur covering their stomachs, and their ears and tails have a light layer of velvety fur. House mice are very agile and can make themselves at home at ground level or up off the ground.

Roof rats have bodies covered in brown or black fur. They are light, agile rats and prefer to live up off the ground and usually enter structures through spaces they discover around the roofline. Norway rats are large, heavy-bodied rats that are poor climbers and prefer to live at ground level. Their bodies are covered in brown fur. The tails of rats are hairless and scaly. It's important to keep rats away from your property.

Rodents are dangerous, problematic pests when living in our homes. They will damage structures and spread bacteria and diseases through their saliva and feces, making people ill and contaminating our food. They also have a constant need to chew to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Chewed wires, pipes, cables, short circuits, and fires are common results of a rodent infestation.

Rodents are hosts for fleas and ticks and introduce both to our properties. Never a welcome sight, rodents are pests that we need to defend our homes against.

Rodents will only make themselves at home on a property that offers them something. Food, water, and areas of quiet, safe shelter are most attractive to rodents. Unfortunately, most of our yards and homes provide them with what they are looking for. Since rodents have a high metabolism, finding reliable food sources is at the top of their everyday to-do lists.

Things that provide rodents with the food they are looking for include:

• Trash cans
• Compost piles
• Gardens
• Fruit trees
• Pet food
• Grills and outdoor eating areas
• Kitchens and pantries

When living outside in our yards, rodents choose to nest in secluded areas to protect themselves against the predators that want to hunt them. Areas of tall grass, overgrown landscaping, trees, and things like woodpiles and brush piles are often taken advantage of by rodents and used as nesting sites.

After coming indoors, rodents move into dark and quiet places that put them near food sources. Wall voids, the backs of cabinets, attics, boxes, and closets are places we regularly discover rodent nests.

Rodents are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night while we are sleeping. It is often more common for things like rodent droppings, gnaw marks, and odors to alert us to a rodent infestation rather than the rodents themselves. Rodents can also become a problem for commercial properties, and we can help eliminate rats, mice, and other pests, from your business.

To rid your Durham property of rodents, partner with an experienced professional. With over 25 years in the pest control industry, the professionals at Eco Man Pest Solutions have been helping property owners in Durham, NC protect their establishments from rodents and other pests. Using innovative and natural products and Integrated Pest Management techniques, we work closely with our customers to remove the toughest pest problems. 

Eco Man Pest Solutions is committed to our customers and provides the most comprehensive and eco-friendly pest control services possible, ensuring happy customers and pest-free properties. To learn more about our rodent control options, give us a call today!

The following five easy steps will help you to prevent problems with rodents in your Durham area yard and home.

1. Inspect your home’s exterior and seal openings you discover in the foundation, roofline, and around wires and pipes. 
2. Cut back trees, bushes, and shrubs from the outside of your home that may provide rodents with easy access to your house.
3. Remove a rodent’s access to food sources in your yard by keeping lids on trash cans, removing food sources, placing metal sheeting around the trunks of fruit trees, and regularly harvesting garden areas.
4. Get rid of clutter from your yard where rodents will hide and nest like fallen trees, brush piles, and construction debris.
5. Inside your home, remove excess clutter and keep storage areas organized; this will help you identify a problem with rodents sooner rather than later.