City or country, rats and mice are persistent and damaging pests. These rodents damage property and present a health hazard. Before you select the proper treatment and prevention methods, identify which rodent pest you are dealing with.

Habitats of Rats and Mice

The most common rodent pathways are sill ledges, fence rails, foundations, electrical wires, pipes, tree branches and conduits.

Rodent Signs

Inspect your home, outbuildings and landscape for these rodent signs.

Droppings

What droppings tell you:

1. Age

• New droppings are shiny and resemble putty in appearance.
• Old feces are hard and crumbly.

2. Size of the infestation

• Varying feces sizes indicate juveniles and adults are present.
• Many droppings indicate a large infestation.

3. High activity areas where rodent elimination tools should be implemented.

Urine pillars

1. Accumulations of urine form “urine pillars.”

2. The chemicals in rodent urine have a very distinct odor; with large infestations you can easily smell it.

Gnaw marks

1. Mice: holes are 1-2 mm in width and small and clear cut.

2. Rats: holes are 4 mm in width and big with rough torn edges.

Rub marks

1. When dirt in the environment combines with oils in their skin, rub marks are left when rodents travel along walls.

2. If marks smear you know they are fresh.

Rodent burrows

1. Norway rats nest in burrows.

2. Burrows are normally 4-5 feet in the ground in areas where there is protective vegetation.

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