Rodents, primarily rats and mice, are a public health threat. They are known to carry diseases - most notably hantavirus. Rodents can chew through wood, aluminum, cement and sheet rock. They can gnaw through plumbing pipes to gain access to water - rats must drink water on a daily basis.

FAQ's:

• Rodents are most active shortly after sunset and just before dawn.
• Rats and mice have vision that is adapted for nighttime. They are primarily nocturnal, but will have short periods of feeding throughout the day. 
• Rodents are color blind, but can differentiate between various shades.
• Rodents have hairs on their body that are attached to sensory nerves that help them to sense their environment.
• Rodents are nearsighted and rely on their sense of smell to provide information about their environment. They use urine to mark mating and feeding areas and paths to these areas.
• Hearing is well-developed enabling rodents to hear in sonic and ultrasonic ranges.

TIPS:

The best way to avoid invasions of rodents is to provide as little harborage as possible that might attract them, and seal as many holes and cracks in the outside of the home through which they might enter. Follow these recommendations to help prevent rodents from seeking the shelter provided by your home:

• Keep firewood stored as far from the home as possible and store it off the ground. During the winter, store only enough wood next to the house to burn every couple of days.
• If possible, remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks, etc. If these are near the foundation of the home they serve as harborages to attract rodents.
• Do not allow piles of leaves to accumulate next to the home's foundation.
• Seal any hole or crack larger than 1/4 of an inch. A good rule of thumb is that if a pencil can fit into it, a mouse could too. Large holes or cracks should be stuffed with steel wool or wire mesh before sealing with caulk or foam, otherwise rodents could chew through to enter.
• Install good, thick weather-strip on the bottom of all doors to prevent rodents from entering.

Norway Rat, also called the brown rat, gray rat, sewer rat, water rat, wharf rat and barn rat.

Size: Larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10 to 12 inches. The tail is shorter in length than the body. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound.

Color: Can vary from gray to brown to black.

Habits: Norway rats will nest in burrows in the ground. These rats often feed on grains, seeds and vegetation, but will feed on anything provided in urban settings. These rats also separate undigested food particles from animal fecal material.

Roof Rat / Black Rat are an arboreal, or tree-dwelling, species.

Size:  Larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10 to 12 inches. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound. Roof rats have long tails, thin bodies, and large eyes and ears with a whitish or gray belly.

Color:  Can vary from gray to brown to black.

Habits: Roof rats tend to nest in trees and vegetation, but will nest in attics or wall voids. They are also known to nest in the ground if the Norway rats are not in the same area.  Roof rats will feed on snails, nuts or fruit.

House Mouse, more numerous than rats and are more widespread throughout urban and suburban communities. A mouse can be distinguished from a young rat since the rat's head and feet will be overly large in relation to its body.

Size:  Small, its body rarely exceeding two inches long and one ounce in weight.

Color:  Usually gray in color, but some may appear darker.

Habits: The house mouse will eat all types of food. They consume seeds, insects, snails, carrion and worms.  Mice are capable of surviving long periods without water.