Mice vs rat

Mice

There are two common types of mice that you may encounter: the house mouse and the field mouse. The house mouse is gray, about 3 inches long, and weighs 1/2 to 1 ounce. The field mouse is brown with a white belly and has a similar size and weight as the house mouse. Both types of mice are prolific breeders, maturing at 35 days and producing a litter of 6 to 8 in 21 days.

Mice can be a serious problem in any building, especially in the fall when they seek shelter from the cold. They can gnaw through food packages, furniture, clothing, paper, and other materials. They can also gnaw on wires and cause equipment damage or fire hazards. They leave behind droppings and urine on counters, plates, food handling surfaces, and other areas. They can carry and transmit many germs and diseases, such as salmonella, hantavirus, leptospirosis, and plague.

To prevent and control mice infestations, you need to eliminate their food sources, nesting materials, and entry points. Some tips are:

Store food in sealed containers and clean up crumbs and spills regularly.
Dispose of garbage in closed dumpsters or trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
Remove clutter and debris that mice can use for nesting or hiding.
Seal any holes or gaps around the foundation, walls, doors, windows, pipes, vents, or wires that mice can squeeze through.
Use traps or baits to catch or kill mice inside the building. Follow the instructions carefully and dispose of dead mice properly.
Hire a professional pest control service if the infestation is severe or persistent.

Rats

The most common type of rat that you may encounter is the Norway rat. It is brown with a gray belly, about 7 to 10 inches long (not including the tail) and weighs 7 to 18 ounces. It is a nocturnal rodent that lives in burrows underground or in piles of rubbish. It feeds on a variety of foods, including grains, meats, fish, and processed foods.

Rats can be a serious problem in any building, especially near sources of food, water, and shelter. They can gnaw through wood, plastic, metal, concrete, and other materials. They can also gnaw on wires and cause equipment damage or fire hazards. They leave behind droppings and urine on floors, walls, ceilings, and other areas. They can carry and transmit many germs and diseases, such as salmonella, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, typhus, and plague.

To prevent and control rat infestations, you need to eliminate their food sources, water sources, and harborage areas. Some tips are:

Store food in sealed containers and clean up crumbs and spills regularly.
Dispose of garbage in closed dumpsters or trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
Do not feed birds or squirrels with corn or millet as this will attract rats.
Feed pets only enough food so they finish it. Do not leave pet food outside overnight.
Remove clutter and debris that rats can use for burrowing or hiding.
Cut back vegetation around the building that rats can use for cover or runways.
Seal any holes or gaps around the foundation, walls, doors, windows, pipes, vents, or wires that rats can squeeze through.
Use traps or baits to catch or kill rats inside or outside the building. Follow the instructions carefully and dispose of dead rats properly.
Hire a professional pest control service if the infestation is severe or persistent.

Although there are both mice and rats in Madison, Wisconsin, Kwik Kill Pest control can handle these rodents. Give us a call at 608-228-8899 for assistance.

Kwik Kill Services to Control Mice and Rats

Additional Resources

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/rats/pest-notes/
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef617

Prevent And Control Mice & Rat

There are many types of common pests that routinely invade homes in the Madison area. At Kwik Kill, we are experts in solving each one of these unique pest control problems.

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