About Rodents
A rodent is a type of animal with special front teeth that never stop growing. These animals need to chew on things to keep their teeth short. The most common rodents that invade our homes or other structures are known as commensal rodents. A commensal rodent is a rodent that lives near people and uses their food, water, and shelter to survive. Commensal rodents we see in Santa Clara County include Norway rats, roof rats and house mice. They generally don't hurt people on purpose but they can cause many problems.
Roof Rats
- Are good climbers.
- Fit through holes the size of a quarter.
- Their tail is longer than their head and body combined.
- They have slender bodies, large ears and eyes, and a pointed nose.
House Mice
- Are small with large ears and black eyes.
- Have a slender body.
- Excellent sense of smell, taste, hearing, and touch.
- Can fit through holes the size of a dime.
Norway Rats
- Larger body size than mice and roof rats.
- It's tail is shorter than its body.
- Can range in color from brown to dark grey.
- They like to burrow.
- Have smaller ears than roof rats.
Why are Rodents a Problem?
Native rodents play an important role in our ecosystem, but non-native rodents like the Norway rat, roof rat, and house mouse can be a problem. They become pests when they infest homes. Every year, rodents cause property damage, contaminate food supplies, and pose a serious risk to public health. They can transfer diseases directly to humans through:
- Bite wounds
- Contaminating food and water supplies with their urine or droppings.
- Carry ectoparasites like ticks, mites, and fleas that can also transmit diseases to people.
To keep them away, clean up food, block holes they can enter through, and use traps or seek professional pest control help. You can also request a free rodent inspection with us!
Services
We offer free rodent exterior inspections only. Our trained technicians will inspect the exterior of your property and do the following:
- Look for possible rodent entry points.
- Identify rodent attractants on your property.
- Provide consultation and advice on how to :
- Do the repairs.
- Properly trap rodents.
- Safely clean-up after rodents.
Request a rodent inspection
What Can I Do To Reduce Rodent Populations?
- Block entrances to your home by replacing missing or broken vent screens.
- Seal holes or gaps between roof tiles and around pipe entrances with metal, concrete, or ¼ inch galvanized hardware cloth. Reduce the availability of food, water, and shelter.
- Regularly clean up animal feces, bird seed, grains, and ripe fruits and nuts off the ground.
- Keep all garbage cans tightly covered.
- Store all pet food, water, and containers inside.
- Keep sheds tightly closed and screen off the base.
- Remove clutter.
- Remove or thin, overgrown vegetation.
- Identify entry and access points to the home and repair them.
