Unfortunately, rats and mice can easily make their ways into homes through tiniest gaps. While rodents have an easier time calling a messy property home, they can set up shop in a wide variety of conditions.
In today’s blog, we will talk a little bit about what are rodents, their common types, signs you need rodent control, rodent infestation in homes, preventing them and how you can get rid of rodents.
What Are Rodents?
When we say “rodents”, we are mostly referring to rats and mice. However technically speaking, rodents can be chipmunks, hamsters, squirrels, and many more. The common rats and mice that make their way into people’s homes can carry disease, leave droppings throughout your home, make noise in the middle of the night, and be overall nuisances.
If you need help safely dealing with rodents on your property, be sure to contact an exterminator at Dave’s Pest Control today!
Common Rodents in Florida
Florida is home to a variety of rodents. Here are the most common types of rodents found in Florida.
1. Norway Rats
Also known as brown rats, these rodents are found throughout Florida, especially in urban areas. They are known for their burrowing habits and ability to thrive in human environments.
- Size: Up to 16 inches in length, including the tail
- Diet: Omnivores—they eat anything from garbage to grains
- Habitat: Sewers, basements, warehouses, and docks
- Interesting Fact: Norway rats are strong swimmers and can enter homes through sewer systems.
2. Roof Rats
Also called black rats, roof rats are common in Florida, especially along the coast. They are excellent climbers and are often found nesting in attics, trees, and palm fronds.
- Size: Around 13-18 inches long, including the tail
- Diet: Fruits, nuts, seeds, and bird eggs
- Habitat: Roofs, attics, and high places
- Interesting Fact: Roof rats are highly adaptable and are often found in citrus orchards and near agricultural areas in Florida.
3. Eastern Gray Squirrels
Eastern gray squirrel is known for its bushy tail and love of acorns is mostly found in parks of Florida.
- Size: 9-12 inches long, with a 7-10 inch tail
- Diet: Acorns, nuts, seeds, and sometimes insects
- Habitat: Hardwood forests, suburban areas, and urban parks
- Interesting Fact: Eastern gray squirrels bury nuts in the ground, which helps plant new trees when they forget where they hid them.
4. Cotton Rats
Cotton rats are more common in rural and agricultural areas of Florida.
- Size: 5-7 inches in body length, with a tail about half the body length
- Diet: Grasses, seeds, and other vegetation
- Habitat: Fields, farms, and grassy areas
- Interesting Fact: Cotton rats are an important food source for many predators, including hawks, owls, and snakes.
5. Beavers
Beavers are found in wetlands across northern Florida. These industrious rodents are known for building dams and creating small ponds, which benefit many other species.
- Size: Up to 3 feet long and weighing up to 60 pounds
- Diet: Bark, twigs, leaves, and aquatic plants
- Habitat: Wetlands, rivers, and ponds
- Interesting Fact: Beavers have large, orange teeth that never stop growing, allowing them to chew through tough tree trunks.
Common Signs of Rodents Infestations
Even if you don’t see rodents, there are still other signs that may suggest that rodents are in your home. It’s always wise to keep an eye out and call a rodent exterminator near you when you see any of the following signs.
Droppings
You may notice little round droppings under your sinks or in cabinets and cupboards. Rats and mice go wherever and whenever they’d like. So if there are rodents in your home, you will likely stumble upon droppings at some point.
Chewed Food Items
Rodents are scavengers. They may chew through thin plastic bags or other food containers in order to snack on the food in your home.
Chewed or Scratched Areas
You may have noticed chewed or scratched areas where rodents have tried to take shelter in your walls, cabinets, or other wood structures around the home.
Strange Pet Behaviors
If you have a cat or dog, sometimes they know the rodents are there before you do. They may sit and stare intently at one location for hours on end. This can serve as a sign of rodent in your home.
Urine Smell
In some cases, you will smell the rodents before you ever leave them. Over time, a urine smell starts to develop if the rodents go unnoticed.
Scratching/Rustling Noises
Mice and rats aren’t always quiet. In many cases you can hear them scratching are rustling things around your home or in the walls.
Common Problems Caused by Rodents
Rodents are not being removed because they look creepy. There are a lot of other problems caused by them that residents of Florida want to get rid of.
Property Damage:
Rats and mice chew through walls, insulation, and electrical wiring, which lead to costly repairs.
Food Contamination:
Rodents contaminate food with their droppings and urine potentially spreading diseases like salmonella and leptospirosis.
Disease Transmission:
Some rodents carry diseases like hantavirus, plague, and rat-bite fever, which can be transmitted to humans through direct contact or through fleas and ticks.
How to Prevent Rodent Infestations in Florida
Rodent infestations can be prevent through several ways, lets discuss:
Seal Entry Points:
Rats and mice can enter your homes through tiny holes, insulation pipes or cracks. Seal any gaps around doors, windows, and pipes.
Eliminate Food Sources:
Store food in airtight containers, and keep garbage in sealed bins as rodents attract towards food.
Clean Regularly:
Remove food scraps and clutter from your home or yards.
If you suspect a rodent infestation, you should instantly contact a pest control professional to remove the infestations and prevent them from coming back.
How to Exterminate Rodents
There are common rodent control methods that many people use like mouse traps, glue traps, bait boxes, and more. These methods work well for some people, but it never hurts to work with an exterminator — especially if you have a more serious infestation. Contact the exterminators at Dave’s Pest Control today for rodent control in Florida!