Mice, Rats, And Rodents

Most homeowners are familiar with mice and rats. Heck, it’s probably even safe to assume that you’ve had a run into or two with one of these critters in the Cincinnati area. That being said, most people aren’t aware of the fact that there are only two species that invade homes. What two species are these? This would be the house mouse and the deer mouse. The house mouse is small and nearly hairless with a slightly pointed black nose. However, the ears and eyes are protruding. The creatures can range in color from light brown to black and normally appear with gray or buff stomachs.

The deer mouse, on the other hand, is bi-colored, meaning it can appear in two different shades. It usually has white feet and a white belly while the upper back and head are brown. While there are several different ways that you can differentiate between the two species, the tails are one of the most distinctive features. The tails of the deer mice are extremely long, oftentimes growing to be as long as the creature itself. They are also two-toned or multi-colored, which can help with the identification.

The droppings are another distinct way you can separate the two species. The droppings from the deer mouse are usually black and smooth with pointed ends, whereas the droppings from the house mouse are black and musty in smell.

Spotting The Early Warning Signs

As with any pest, early prevention is always the way to go. This not only helps you confine the problem, but it could help save you some expenses. Here are some early warning signs to keep an eye out for when dealing with rats and mice. These could be indications that your home or building is infested:

• Dropping around the area (outside and inside)
• Look for small rodent nests (these will be made out of twigs or newspaper)
• Keep an eye out for gnaw marks on wood and exposed electrical wires
• Listen for the sounds of feet scurrying through the walls and attic (this will likely be at night)

Interrupting Mouse Droppings

While there are only two different species of mice you could be dealing with, it always pays to know which you are dealing with. This will only help with the elimination of the pest. That being said, one of the best ways to determine what type of critter you are dealing with is by learning to interrupt mouse droppings. The good thing about mouse droppings is, they are usually pretty obvious. They are typically black and anywhere from 3 to 6 millimeters in length. They’ll also be granular in shape, which will help with the identification. These droppings are usually about the size and shape of a grain of rice and will be found need breeding and nesting area. That being said, droppings can be found in any location where the critter has been feeding.

Why Is My Home Infested With Mice?

Most people don’t realize it, but mice are commensal creatures. What exactly does this mean? It means that they share habitats that are common to that of humans. Just like we need shelter, water, and food to thrive and survive, so do they. They are always on the search for food, shelter, and water. They usually enter into a structure via small holes. Anything smaller than ¼ inch in diameter, a mouse can get through. Any small opening, crack, or crevice exposed on the outside of the structure, a mouse can get likely get through. This is why the best pest management plans start with sealing up and eliminating these openings.

Are Mice A Threat?

It doesn’t matter what type of pest infestation you are dealing with, there are always going to be potential risks. The truth of the matter is, these creatures are nasty and most of them carry diseases. They are in your food, constantly leaving feces everywhere, and just a nightmare to deal with. Some of the most common diseases associated with pest infestations are Hantavirus, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Lassa Fever, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis, Plague, and Rat-Bite Fever.

A Breakdown Of Rodent Dangers

You always have to understand the potential threats when dealing with any rodent. Here is an overview of some of the potential threats of rodents.

• Contamination of surface and food with fecal matter and urine
• The potential spread of a variety of harmful diseases
• Extreme structural damage to your structure due to constant gnawing and chewing
• Potential electrical fires because of chewing on electronics and electrical wires

The Elimination Of Mice

Unfortunately, mice possess the innate ability to thrive with little. They’ll survive in some of the most undesirable conditions. They possess the ability to climb up walls, run on vertical spaces, climb cables and ropes, and can even sidestep traps. Combine this with their quick wits and sped, and it should be more than easy to understand why you are going to require the assistance of a professionally trained pest management professional to eliminate the creature. At King Pest, we combine cutting-edge technology with proven methods to successfully eliminate rodents in the safest and most effective ways possible. Just give us a call and we’ll get started today.

How Soon Can Help Arrive?

At Kings Pest, we are pretty busy all times of the year. Summer, winter, fall, or spring, we are always busy, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t willing to make time for all our Cincinnati customers. Give us a call and we’ll do our best to have a professional out at the structure with 24 to 48 hours.

Are Save Treatment Options Available?

Kings Pest puts a high value on the integrity of the environment. We know pesticides are a long-used pest management solution and have proven more than effective over the years. However, pesticides are not a means we are willing to go to right away. Anytime we can utilize eco-friendly options to eliminate rodents, we’ll do so. Unfortunately, there are times when pesticides are the only solution. When this is the case, you can rest assured you are getting a qualified, trained professional certified and qualified by the EPA to safely handle such pesticides. Give us a call to do to take a look at our wide selection of eco-friendly and conventional pest management solutions.

Is It Possible To Prevent Infestations

Unfortunately, there is probably no way that you can wholly eliminate the potential for an infestation. Of course, this doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things you can do to mitigate your risks. We also recommend taking advantage of rodent-proofing materials. Placing such materials on doorways and around the exterior of the structure and go a long way to eliminating pest infestations. Sealing all cracks and crevices, even ones that seem menial will be essential as well.

Are Rats Dangerous?

Just like most other insects and rodents, rats are known to carry and transmit a variety of diseases. Of these diseases, it is probably mycoplasma that is the most well-known. It’s probably also the most dangerous. It is a bacteria that can eventually lead to pneumonia and a whole hose of other respiratory diseases. Rats are also big spreaders of fleas, parasites, and mites.

Proper Elimination Of Rats

Rats possess the save elusive abilities of rats. They are quick-witted, fast in speed, extremely agile, and possess the ability to climb up walls and scale wires. Almost sounds like a superhero, huh? This is why it usually takes the assistance of a super-trained pest management professional like Kings Pest to successfully eliminate the creatures from a structure. Kings Pest offers the most effective solutions possible when it comes to rat elimination. They also offer more humane methods.

It Is Possible To DIY Rats?

With just a bit of research, you’ll quickly discover that there are all kinds of DIY rat elimination methods available online. There are even special pesticides that you can purchase online. However, just because all these products and methods are available, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should take advantage of them. They might end up just costing you more money in the long run or worsening the spread of the infestation, as rats can just scatter and return later. Pesticides for rat elimination should always be handled with extreme caution and care. Our techs are all trained at handling and distributing such chemicals.

When Can You Get Here?

As you likely already know, King Pest is pretty bust all year round. That being said, we are always more than willing to accommodate our Cincinnati customers. We make it a priority to have someone out at the premises at least 24 to 48 hours after you make that first initial contact with our home offices.

Do You Offer Safe Treatments?

When there are children and pets in the home, you always have to be concerned with safety. It just makes sense. That being said, there should always be a call to concern when dealing with chemicals as well. Especially chemicals that take trained professionals to operate. That’s right, chemicals used to kill insects, rats, rodents, and mice are supposed to only be handled and distributed by licensed and trained professionals. Anyone doing otherwise without a license or certification is doing so illegally. Just keep this in mind. While our techs are trained and certified by the EPA to handle such chemicals, we do offer some eco-friendly options as well.

The Proper Prevention Of Rats

Any pest problem can be difficult to prevent, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to mitigate your risks of future infestations. Just like dealing with mice and other rodents, you’ll want to practice the same procedures. Keep kitchens clean and food in sealed containers. Declutter the inside and outside of the home while making sure there is no standing water around the foundation. Doing just these few little things can make the biggest difference in the world when it comes to mice, rats, and rodent prevention.

Why Hire Us!

• We are a locally owned and operated business in Cincinnati
• We hire local
• We back our work with a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee
• Our pest control service pricing is fair
• We offer basic, standard, and custom pest control plans
• We offer free mice, rat, and rodent home inspection, consultation, and estimate

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.