Rodent Identification & Prevention

Rodents are mammals part of the order Rodentia, which means to gnaw. All rodents have continuously growing front incisors. To stop their teeth from overgrowing and preventing them from being able to eat, they regularly chew on objects they come across to keep the teeth worn down.

While some rodents have become common pets, most rodents living worldwide are wild. Wild animals can care for themselves, but rodents have learned that people and our homes can offer them a helping hand. Mice and rats are prolific breeders, challenging to control, and have become regular visitors to our College Station and Bryan properties.

The most important thing you need to know when facing a potential rodent infestation is that rodents spread disease. Mice, rats, and other kinds of rodents are vectors of many diseases. Examples include:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
• Leptospirosis
• Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM)
• Rat-Bite Fever
• Salmonellosis
• Tularemia

There are a few different ways that you can be infected with the diseases that Texas rodents carry. Direct contact with a rodent's excrement, breathing in the aerosolized particles from their excrement, or consuming contaminated food or water are the most common sources of infection.

Additional ways to contract a rodent-borne disease include, but are not limited to;

• Handling or inhaling microorganism particles aerosolized from hay, woodpiles, or other materials contaminated with infected rodent urine.
• Directly handling infected rodents.
• Bites or scratches from rodents.
• Through the parasites (fleas or ticks) rodents carry on their backs.

The bottom line is that rodents are carriers of many diseases, and sharing your home with these pests puts your family's health at risk.

Rodents reproduce extraordinarily quickly. Mice gestation lasts 19-21 days; females typically give birth to anywhere from 3-14 babies. At 5-10 litters per year, mice reproduce at some of the highest mammalian reproduction rates. What does this mean for you? It means the scurrying sound you hear in the attic can go from one little mouse to over a dozen in less than three weeks.

In addition to scurrying sounds, other common signs of a rodent infestation include:

• Finding their dark-rice-like droppings within your home.
• Seeing gnaw marks on walls, furniture, and food packaging.
• You begin to smell an unpleasant, musty odor within your home.

At any notice of a rodent problem on your property, immediately contact a local pest control professional.

Rodents like mice and rats are opportunistic pests. They take advantage of the food, water, and shelter our properties provide. These pests have come to feel comfortable living near people because they know their basic needs are likely to be met wherever we are.

Mice and rats are prey animals; to protect themselves and their young from predators and other harm, they live in areas that offer safe shelter.

Out in nature, rodents are frequently found in areas of dense vegetation, in tree cavities, under fallen trees, and in-ground holes. Where we live, rodents hang out in our gardens, flowerbeds, dumpsters, and beneath decks and building foundations.

The more comfortable rodents are in your outdoor space, the more likely they will become curious enough to investigate the inside of your home or garage. Mice and rats like to nest in our home's dark, quiet areas that put them near food sources – kitchens, bathrooms, basements, utility rooms, and attics.

Don't wait! When it comes to invasive pests, the biggest regret is waiting too long to call a professional. Mice, rats, and other rodents are dangerous. They carry and spread disease, reproduce quickly, and can be aggressive.

Here at Swoboda Pest & Termite Control, we understand how dangerous and frustrating a rodent infestation is and will act quickly to provide you with effective home pest control and commercial pest control. With our help, you will have the peace of mind that the entire infestation has been eliminated, and rodents won't return.

Call Swoboda Pest & Termite Control today if you suspect a rodent problem in your Bryan or College Station home.

To help you avoid issues with mice and rats, we want to provide you with the following effective rodent prevention tips. 

• Cut back overgrown shrubbery and tree branches that give rodents easy access to your home.
• Regularly inspect your home, sealing any holes or other openings.
• Maintain a neat and tidy property – lots of clutter and yard debris offers rodents with harborage spots.
• Plant things in flower beds near your home that naturally repel rodents, such as chrysanthemums, lavender, and daffodils. 
• Remove food sources that can attract rodent activity – keep lids on trash cans, pick up uneaten pet food, and regularly pick up dropped fruits and vegetables from garden areas.

Contact us today to learn about rodent control in Bryan and how we can work together to keep mice and rats away from your Texas property.