Rodents - Rats & Mice Exterminator

Here in Vermont, we have many types of rodents. The most common pest rodents we deal with include:

1. Deer mice: These mice are often called “field mice”. They are typically outdoors and are feared for their ability to transmit hantavirus. They are gray or brown in color with white feet and underbelly.
2. House mice: Adult house mice range in total size from 5-8 inches in length, including their tail. Their ears are moderately large and their bodies can be light brown to nearly black in color.
3. Norway rats: These rats are relatively large. The average adult measures 16 inches in total length from its nose to the end of its tail, and weighs about 12 ounces. They are known to burrow.

Rodents are exceptional jumpers and climbers, and use these abilities to gain access to homes. Rats will jump from overhanging trees and electrical lines to access roof lines and attics. Rodents can fit through gaps the size of a dime and will seek out cracks in foundations and gaps around windows to enter homes. Dryer vents, utility pipes, exterior doors, and chimneys are other access areas rodents use to get inside homes.

Rodents are known for the structural damage they can cause to your property. This is mostly due to their chewing and nesting habits, but also the rate at which they produce droppings. With their ever-growing incisor teeth, rodents can chew on wood structures, on wires, and more. When they gnaw on wires, it can create a fire hazard due to the exposed wires. They also will readily tear up materials to build their nests out of.

Rodents are not subtle creatures. It can be easy to tell when they are in or near your property. Here are some of the main signs of their activity:

• Gnaw marks on door corners and walls, or gnawed fruit in trees
• Rat droppings are shiny black and up to 3/4″ long. Mice droppings are smaller with pointed ends.
• Odd noises or scratching sounds at night in the walls.
• Spotting burrows outdoors along foundations, walls or trees is a sign of Norway rat activity.
• Foul odors that are otherwise inexplicable could be due to a rodent problem.

Yes, rodents carry more than 35 of the world’s most dangerous diseases. They can both carry and spread the following:

• Salmonella
• Hantavirus
• Lassa fever
• Leptospirosis
• Tularemia
• LCM
• Rat-bite fever
• Plague

To keep rodents away from your Vermont home, there are several steps you can take to make your property less attractive to them. Our top rodent prevention tips include:

• Cutting off access to your home and removing the food and water resources that attract them.
• Closing up gaps and holes around utility cables, outdoor vents or pipe work with steel wool or silicone-based caulk.
• Keeping your home clean and free of clutter, and use tight fitting lids on trash bins.
• Picking up fallen fruit outdoors, cleaning up around bird feeders, removing leaf litter, and picking up pet waste.

All-natural methods to prevent or control rats and mice can be tricky. Many people have claimed that mothballs, peppermint oil, and even ammonia will get rid of a rodent issue. While these may repel a rat or two, they will not combat an entire rodent infestation in your property. Rodent exclusion is the best way to prevent rodents naturally!

DIY rodent control is a gamble. Store-bought products may be a suitable option when you spot a single mouse or rat in your garage, but they will not hold up against a serious infestation in your home. To get rid of rodents quickly and efficiently, it’s best to enlist the expertise of a professional pest control company. A rodent exterminator can get rid of rodents, help with cleanup, and protect your property against future infestations.