Every year construction companies continue to make more and more homes and businesses available to the average person. Buildings are constantly being built. With this comes a challenge of finding renewable sources of building materials and dealing with wildlife that has lost its habitat. Of the wildlife that we find problematic, rodents are some of the most difficult to control. Housing creates a situation where there are fewer and fewer acres of woods available for them to call home. Because of this we see more and more rodents in homes and businesses than ever before. So how do we deal with this? This article will seek to find answers by understanding rodents better, discussing methods of control and exploring rodents as a whole.

When discussing rodents, there are essentially three groups that we find predominately causing problems. The first group is mice, the second rats and finally underground rodents. Now we do see other small rodents such as squirrels and opossums that find their way in and around our homes. But this article will only deal with the first three. Mice are commonly found in fields and wooded areas. They are small rodents that find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. They reproduce prolifically, because they are the primary food source for most predators in the area. This also makes them very difficult to control in your home. Call the best Broken Arrow pest control company, TermMax Pest Control.  

MICE

Mice, like many other rodents, need to find a few things for their survival. Shelter is one of the many things that they need. In the winter time when things get cold, we see more mice issues than at other times of the year. This is because they’re looking for somewhere warm stay and our homes are nicely heated with plenty of insulation to make nests to care for their young in. They also are full of foods that mice and other rodents can eat. This satisfies their second need which is the need for food. Pantries, unclean dishes, and other food items left out can be a buffet for these small rodents. And once they find a place in your home where they can create a nest and then eat, they will start reproducing extremely fast. Rodents can become a problem very quickly, especially when it comes to mice. 

RATS

Rats can also be very difficult to control. Just like mice they need a place to stay that is warm, inviting and provides food and shelter. In Oklahoma, we have two rats: the common roof rat, and the Norway rat. These rats will find away into your attic space and eat from your trash or any other place they can find food. They will also reproduce very quickly. Both mice and rats also have a need for water. Any water leaks or plumbing leaks can give them the adequate hydration that they need. Condensation on hot water pipes can help them as well. 

Both rats and mice can carry many diseases. Sanitation is so important when controlling these rodents. They can carry many different diseases such as the bubonic plague, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Tularemia and other very dangerous diseases. Because of this, it is important to keep these animals out of your home. Rats, in some situations, are known to bite. They will bite you if you’re sleeping and can be very unnerving if they’re in your home.

UNDERGROUND RODENTS

In addition to mice and rats, Oklahoma has an issue with moles and gophers. Both of these rodents dig underground tunnels and live in these systems of tunnels. They can create unsightly mounds in your yard, or trails where they have gone hunting for insects. Moles are predominately insectivores, and only eat insects. Gophers on the other hand are much more interested in plants. They can do a number on your bulbs and flowers. While these rodents don’t necessarily come inside your house, they can make a mess out of your yard. Year-round these animals will attack your grass and and create issues for your lawn care. If you’re having issues with moles or gophers it’s important to contact your Tulsa pest control company right away to get them taken care of.

CONTROLING RODENTS

Control of rodents is something best left to the professionals. There are many over-the-counter baits and traps that can be used against mice, rats, moles and gophers. But in many cases these are ineffective. You may kill one or two mice, moles or gophers, but the vast majority of them probably survived to keep on reproducing. You’re Broken Arrow exterminator is going to know exactly what to use, where to use it and how to use it effectively against these rodent invaders. Baits are very effective against rodents. When a mouse or rat eats bait, it gets thirsty. In order to get water, that mouse or rat will go outside to find water supply to quenches thirst. It’s here that the poison is actually activated.  Because of this, in most cases, mice and rats will die outside as opposed to inside your home. This keeps the smells of decay away from you and your loved ones. Traps can also be effective, but are somewhat limited in nature. This is because they can only kill one animal at a time. In case of rats, traps could be a little more effective because often rats are lower in number than mice are. But when dealing with mice infestation‘s, it takes a lot of traps and a lot of time trapping to go ahead and get rid of the entire population. Plus in many cases, you’ll have to empty your own traps, which can be a nuisance at best.

Dealing with mice, rats, gophers and moles can be a full-time job. That’s why we hear TermMax Pest Control are the best in the business when it comes to taking care of these issues. We service the greater Tulsa area including Broken Arrow, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Bixby, Jenks, Catoosa, Claremore, Owasso, Prattville, Turley in much more. If you’re having an issue with any of these, call the best Tulsa exterminator in the business. We’re here to help!

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