Even though we see rodents most mostly in the winter, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have issues with them in the summertime as well. These small animals are a constant nuisance that can invade your home or business. While the cold weather does tend to push them indoors, they still need to find food and water. Often they can find these things in places where they shouldn’t. So in this article, let’s take a look at rodents, their life cycle and how we can work to keep them out of our homes and businesses.

WORLDWIDE RODENTS

We find mice and rats all over the world. With the exception of Antarctica, they have traveled everywhere that we have. Ships have taken them across the oceans and made them ubiquitous on every landmass. Because of this, mice and rats have built a symbiotic relationship with us as humans. They feed off our food stuff, enjoy our heat and cool and use our homes for shelter. Mice are always smaller than rats. The average mouse is about 4 to 6 inches long including its tail. The average rat is much longer anywhere from a foot to 18 inches long with its tail.  Your Broken Arrow exterminator will have more information.  

Both mice and rats are very agile creatures. They can get in very small spaces. Their bodies are made to be able to squeeze down and fit through small cracks and holes. A mouse can get through a hole the size of a dime and a rat can get though a hole the size of a quarter. This ability gives them access to places that most animals can’t get into. They are also avid jumpers. Mice and rats can jump very high, climb extensively and fall from high places without getting hurt. They are very fast when they move, and can evade predators quickly. They prefer to hide underneath things in order to keep predators such as owls and hawks off of their backs.

RODENT PREDATORS

Predators are a constant problem for these small animals. Because of this, mice and rats find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. There are many different animals that feed upon them. In order to combat this, both mice and rats are very good at reproducing. They reproduce very quickly and in large numbers. If you see a mouse in your house, it’s pretty certain that it is far from the only one. Female mice can actually get pregnant while they’re still waiting to deliver the brood that they currently are pregnant with. Mice and rats both take care of their young until they get to full growth.

Rats are actually prolific swimmers. They can swim long distances and hold their breath. Mice can do this as well, but there are definitely limitations. Many traps today use water as a method of eliminating these rodents. They eventually wear out and drown in these kinds of traps. Other kinds of traps are also the common snap trap. This trap has a large hammer that breaks their neck. Live traps are often used as well but can be somewhat problematic. Your Broken Arrow pest control company can help with these rodents.  

LIVETRAPPING

As many people believe that a live trap is more humane than some of these other lethal traps, you would find that it’s actually the opposite. Mice undergo a psychological change when they find themselves trapped. They will often turn upon the other mice that are in the same trap with them. Mice will kill each other and feed upon each other when locked in a trap together. This is obviously inhumane and uncalled for. We strongly recommend that you never use live traps unless they’re checked often at least three or four times a day.

The most effective means of controlling their numbers is poison. Traps can only catch one or two and with these rodents being so prolific and reproducing so fast, the one or two that you catch in the trap are not enough to stop an infestation. Poison, on the other hand, not only kills the target animal, but often these animals will bring the poison back to their young wiping out whole generations. Often poison is fast and mostly painless and takes care of the issue fairly quickly. It’s important though that you put baits in appropriate containers that only allow mice and rats access to them. These kinds of rodenticides will hurt pets and other non-target animals. It could cause the death of your beloved fur baby.

HUNGRY RODENTS

Mice are almost always after our food sources. They can smell through a plastic bag, and then chew through it to get to the food. It’s important that you keep all of your food goods inside of Tupperware plastic containers. These kinds of containers are too thick for them to smell through, and to take for them to chew through. Call the best Tulsa exterminator for more information.  

Chewing is a specialty for these animals. Rodents never stop growing their two front teeth. These two front teeth constantly need to be chewing on something in order to trim them and keep them from getting too long. Front teeth that are too long makes it impossible for the animal to eat causing it to starve. Rodent teeth are unique and the fact they have enamel on the front but not in the back. Because of this, when rodents chew on things they shape their teeth to a sharp point, sloping back from the enamel part. This helps them to have the right kind of teeth to do the things they need to do to survive.

DEALING WITH RODENTS

If you’re having problems with rodents, roaches or any other kinds of pests in your home or business, it’s time to call in the best Tulsa pest control company in the business. TermMax pest control specializes in these kinds of issues. We service the greater Tulsa area including Broken Arrow, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa, Owasso, Turley, Jenks, Bixby and much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!