Wildlife Control: Rodents (Mice and Rats)
Mice and rats are common, adaptable rodents that often invade homes and businesses in search of food, water, and shelter. They can cause extensive damage to property by gnawing on wires, insulation, and structures. Additionally, they pose significant health risks through the transmission of diseases and contamination of food. Professional wildlife control is essential for addressing rodent infestations and ensuring the safety of the environment.

Identification:

• 1. House Mouse (Mus musculus)

  • Size: Small, with a body length of 3–4 inches, and a tail length of 2–4 inches.
  • Colour: Typically light brown or grey with a lighter underside.
  • Habitat: Prefers indoor environments, often inhabiting homes, basements, attics, and warehouses. It can also be found in agricultural settings.
  • Behaviour: Nocturnal and highly secretive, house mice are excellent at finding food and shelter. They are notorious for gnawing on wiring, insulation, and food packaging. They reproduce rapidly and can carry diseases such as hantavirus and salmonella.

  2. Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

  • Size: Larger than house mice, with a body length of 7–9 inches and a tail length of 6–8 inches.
  • Colour: Generally brown or grey with a lighter underside. Its fur is coarser than that of mice.
  • Habitat: Common in urban areas, particularly in basements, sewers, and buildings with food sources. They are often found near water sources.
  • Behaviour: Norway rats are opportunistic feeders, known to infest garbage bins, storage areas, and kitchens. They are strong swimmers and dig burrows. Known for their destructive habits, they can gnaw through wood, pipes, and even concrete, and they pose a risk to human health by spreading diseases like leptospirosis and rat-bite fever.

  3. Roof Rat (Rattus rattus)

  • Size: Slightly smaller than the Norway rat, with a body length of 6–8 inches and a tail length of 7–9 inches.
  • Colour: Typically dark grey or black with a lighter belly.
  • Habitat: Prefers elevated areas such as roofs, attics, and tree branches. It is more common in warmer climates but can also be found in Ontario, especially in urban environments.
  • Behaviour: Roof rats are excellent climbers and prefer to nest in high places, making them more difficult to detect. They are often more secretive than Norway rats and are known to be carriers of diseases like salmonella and leptospirosis. They tend to be more cautious than other rat species, making them harder to trap.

  4. White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

  • Size: Small, with a body length of 3–4 inches and a tail length of about 3 inches.
  • Colour: Light brown or grey with a white belly and feet. Its tail is lightly furred.
  • Habitat: Prefers wooded areas, forests, and brushy fields but may also be found in rural homes and cabins, particularly in colder months when seeking shelter.
  • Behaviour: White-footed mice are primarily nocturnal and omnivorous, feeding on seeds, insects, and fruits. They are often carriers of Lyme disease due to their association with ticks.

  5. Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

  • Size: Small, with a body length of 3–4 inches and a tail length of 3–4 inches.
  • Colour: Light brown or grey with a white underside and feet. Its tail is bi-coloured, with a dark top and lighter underside.
  • Habitat: Common in rural areas, including forests, fields, and agricultural environments. Deer mice may also venture into homes during colder months.
  • Behaviour: Deer mice are known to carry diseases like Hantavirus and are especially dangerous due to their ability to spread these pathogens through their droppings, urine, and saliva. They are agile and can squeeze through very small openings to gain entry into buildings.
  
  Signs of rodent activity include:
• Droppings (mice droppings are small, black, and cylindrical, while rat droppings are larger and may have pointed ends).
• Gnawed materials like wires, insulation, wood, and food packaging.
• Nests made of shredded paper, fabric, or insulation.
• Visible tracks or grease marks along walls or baseboards, indicating frequent travel paths.

Life Cycle:

• Mice: Female mice can give birth to litters of 3–14 pups every 3 weeks, and a single female can produce 35–50 offspring per year. Mice typically live 1–2 years, though their lifespan is often shorter due to predators and environmental conditions.
• Rats: Female rats give birth to 6–12 pups every 3–4 weeks, and a single female can produce 100 or more offspring annually. Rats usually live 1–2 years, but like mice, their lifespan is often shorter due to predation and environmental threats.

Diseases:
Rodents are carriers of various diseases and parasites that can pose serious health risks, including:

• Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection transmitted through contact with rodent urine or contaminated water.
• Hantavirus: A virus transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, causing severe respiratory illness.
• Salmonella and E. coli: Bacterial infections spread through contamination of food or surfaces by rodent feces.
• Plague: Rats, particularly in certain regions, can carry fleas that transmit the plague.
• Rat-Bite Fever: An infection transmitted through bites or scratches from rats.
• Parasites: Rodents can carry fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, which can spread to humans or pets.

Professional Control Methods:
Professional rodent control focuses on safe, humane, and effective methods for eliminating infestations:

1. Inspection and Identification: Wildlife control experts inspect the property for signs of rodent activity, identify entry points, nesting areas, and sources of food or water.
2. Trapping and Removal: Various traps, including snap traps, live traps, and bait stations, are used to capture rodents. Traps are regularly checked, and any captured rodents are removed.
3. Exclusion and Prevention: Entry points, such as cracks, gaps, and holes in walls, floors, or foundations, are sealed to prevent future rodent access. Vent screens, door sweeps, and mesh barriers are also installed where necessary.
4. Sanitation and Decontamination: Rodent droppings, urine, and nests are safely removed and areas are disinfected to eliminate health risks like Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis.
5. Homeowner Guidance: Experts provide recommendations for reducing attractants, such as sealing food containers, properly disposing of garbage, and storing pet food in airtight containers. Homeowners are also advised to eliminate access to water sources and reduce clutter that could provide nesting sites for rodents.

Professional rodent control ensures humane removal, protects health, and prevents future infestations, offering a comprehensive solution to rodent-related problems.