There are many types of mice in the Southern Ontario region that have the potential to cause a mouse infestation in your home. The mouse species most likely to cause homeowners problems are the house mouse, the deer mouse and the field mouse. Mice commonly make their way into your home or business in search for food, heat and water.
No matter where you live in Ontario, your home is at threat of a mouse infestation. The house mouse tends to reside within homes in urban areas, while the deer or field mouse will generally enter homes close to forests or fields.
Mice are small in size, have oversized teeth and vary in colour from brown to grey, depending on the species. Their oversized teeth allow them to chew through wood, wires, plastic pipes, drywall and insulation, causing a great deal of damage in and around your home. It is important to call a mouse removal specialist at the first sign of infestation, as mice infestations grow very quickly. A single mating pair of mice has the potential to spread quickly into a colony of 200 in a four month time span.
Not only does a mouse infestation cause major damage to your home, it also comes with a high risk of spreading disease. Mice contaminate food with their waste, fur and saliva and are known to carry hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease fatal to humans. Mice not only carry disease, they also carry fleas which also spread disease. Fleas hosted by mice are known to carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, a disease that targets individuals with low immune systems like the elderly or children.
Pest Kings Wildlife & Pest Control's mouse control technicians do not recommend any untrained homeowner to attempt to handle a rodent. When a rodent is located in your home, it is advised that you contact a pest control professional for a safe mouse removal treatment. In the case of an infestation, try to keep your pets, children and elder away from the rodents. If threatened, they will defend themselves and potentially transfer disease to your loved ones.
Rat Removal Treatment
Rats are larger than mice but cause the same problems, just amplified. Rats tend to create their colonies inside your attic, walls, porches, sheds and under concrete. The rat species most likely to cause homeowners problems are the Norway rat and the roof rat. Like other wildlife species that seek refuge in your home, they come for shelter, warmth and food.
Norway rats and roof rats look very similar, but act very differently. The Norway rat is attracted to damp areas like your crawl space. It's known to burrow tunnel systems at ground level. The roof rat is attracted to higher areas including the attic, rood and upper levels of your home.
Like mice, rats chew through various structures and wires within your home which can lead to fire hazards. Mice have a weaker bite than a rat, which means placing food in glass or metal storage will prevent a mouse from eating it, this is not the case with a rat. Rats have been known to chew through hard materials including aluminum, wood, glass, sheet metal and concrete.
A rat colony can spread very quickly. One single adult rat can produce up to five litters a year, each litter containing up to 14 babies. Baby rats will sexually mature in about five weeks and are able to begin reproducing their own litters. It is very important to call a rat removal specialist at the first sight of rat infestation to ensure it doesn't become out of control.
Not only does a rat infestation cause major damage to your home, it also comes with a high risk of spreading disease. Rats, like mice, spread disease through contamination and bites. Rats also carry fleas which carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, a disease that targets individuals with low immune systems like the elderly or children.
Pest Kings Wildlife & Pest Control's rat control technicians do not recommend any untrained homeowner to attempt to handle any rodent. When a rodent is located in your home, it is advised that you contact a pest control professional for a safe mouse removal treatment. In the case of an infestation, try to keep your pets, children and elder away from the rodents. If threatened, they will defend themselves and potentially transfer disease to your loved ones.