Rodent Resources - Know Your Enemy

KNOW YOUR ENEMY
To successfully control your rodent problem, it’s important to know exactly what type of rodent you’re dealing with. Whether you have just one mouse or an infestation of rats, knowing your enemy is the first step to taking back your home or barn.

House mice are the most common rodents and hardest to control. Found indoors, behind walls, in cabinets and furniture, house mice are very curious and quick to notice new objects in the area.
  • Light brown to gray in color
  • Small – 5-7” long, including tail
  • Tail is hairless and same length as body
  • Reproduce year-round, averaging 5-7 litters with each averaging 5-7 young
  • Poor eyesight, but a keen sense of hearing, smell, and taste
  • Mostly nocturnal and will travel 10 to 30 feet from its nest in search of food
  • Found in nearly all countries

(Also known as Brown Rat, House Rat, Gray Rat, Wharf Rat, or Sewer Rat) Norway rats live in close proximity to people. Found indoors and out, in basements, barns, agricultural structures, and warehouses, Norway rats will burrow under rubbish, wood piles, and buildings.
  • Brown or red-gray in color
  • Blunt muzzle
  • Tail is hairless and about same length of combined head and body
  • Weighs up to one pound
  • Typically reproduces in the spring and fall, averaging 4-6 litters per year with 6-12 young per litter
  • Weak eyesight, but excellent hearing, sense of smell, taste, and touch
  • Will travel 100-150 feet from its nest in search of food

Roof rats are agile climbers and live above the ground – in trees, shrubs, dense ivy or vine growths, overhead storage areas in barns and garages, and in attics. The roof rat is found in warm, tropical, and semi-tropical climates.
  • Grizzled gray, black, or tan
  • Pointed snout and hairless ears that are larger than Norway rats’ ears
  • Tail is hairless, dark in color and longer than the combined head and body
  • Needs a source of water
  • Typically reproduces 3 times a year, averaging 5-8 young in each litter
  • Eats citrus and other tree fruit, vegetables, and grains
  • Can gain access to homes and barns from trees or power lines