Mice Rats And Rodents

Professional Rodent Pest Control Washington DC

Household pests, such as mice and rats, are a common problem for Washington DC property owners. These mammals are described as “rodents,” characterized by incisors or front teeth that are continuously growing. To maintain their incisors, rodents constantly find themselves gnawing on a variety of materials. Rodents utilize their gnawing capabilities to infiltrate human habitats, such as houses, apartments, flats, mobile homes, and duplexes. They also target commercial properties like motels, restaurants, waste management facilities, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and supermarkets.

Fortunately, not all rodent species invade the human habitat. The groundhog, squirrel, prairie dog, beaver, and coypu are just a few examples. Rats and mice are two species of rodents that are notorious for invading residential and commercial properties.

Most Common Rodent Home Infiltration In Washington DC

Squirrels oftentimes find themselves invading Washington DC residential settings. However, more rat and mouse sightings are reported in Washington DC than any other rodent species. If you break the statistics down a little further, you will see the deer mouse and house mouse are sighted in more human habitats than any other mouse species.

House Mouse Species

The house mouse’s body is covered with a fine layer of fur, varying between brown and grayish/black. The abdomen varies between off-white and gray. The rodent drops its fecal matter, which is dark brown or black in color, with a foul odor, along paths, traveled to and from the nest to a food supply. To identify the house mouse fecal droppings, you simply need to examine the shape that replicates a cooked rice granule.

The ears have rounded tips. While large, the house mouse’s ears are slightly smaller than the deer mouse.

Deer Mouse Species

The deer mouse has a light tan or dark brown body, with an off-white abdomen. The tiny feet are white with sharp claws. Unlike the house mouse, the deer mouse has an extremely long hairless tail that measures nearly the same size as the body and head together.

The fecal droppings can be found along pathways, leading to food supplies and nests. Each fecal dropping is shaped like a cooked granule of rice. Immediately after evacuation from the body, the fecal droppings generate a foul odor, described as “musty.”

The ears have rounded ends and are slightly larger than the house mouse’s ears.

What Are The Most Common Signs Of A Rodent Infestation?

Contrary to belief, all residential and commercial establishments in Washington DC are at risk of infiltration or rats and mice. The nocturnal behavior allows the rat and mouse to remain undetected in the human habitat for longer. It may be several weeks before the rodents are detected in your home or business.

The first sign of a rodent infestation will vary. Knowing the signs will ensure early detection and a quick resolution. The most common rodent infestation signs include the following:

• Fecal droppings on food preparation surfaces, kitchen floor, waste bin, sink, countertops, and pantries
• Nest constructed from yard debris (leaves, twigs, and grass), paper, and other household materials
• Gnaw marks on structural components, such as drywall, subfloor, studs, trash bins, food storage containers, and clothes
• Audible noise, described as a “scurrying” sound

What Are The Common Characteristics Of Mice Fecal Droppings

As previously mentioned, mouse fecal droppings are shaped like cooked rice granules. In the early phases following the defecation, the fecal droppings generate a foul musty odor. Mice drop their feces everywhere they go. But, more commonly in close proximity to the nest, food supply, and frequently traveled pathways.

The feces ranges between dark brown and black. Once you are able to identify the mouse’s fecal droppings, you will find it impossible to forget.

Why Is Are Mice Targeting My Washington DC Property?

Mice and rats do not discriminate between residential and commercial properties. These rodent species infiltrate homes and businesses through openings they create by gnawing. The need to gnaw is continuous, so why not utilize the process to infiltrate buildings with the essentials – food, shelter, and water.

If your property has been infiltrated by mice, you can guarantee, the contributor is gnawing. We highly recommend thorough a visual inspection of the impacted property. Focus on walls along baseboards and floorboards, underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks, basements, crawlspaces, and pantries.

Do Mice Cause Structural Damage?

Yes, mice are notorious for damaging structural components of commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. The rodents continuously gnaw through wood, metal, plastic, vinyl, and fabric. There are no structural components 100 percent protected from damage caused by mice.

Mouse-borne illnesses range from Lassa fever, hemorrhagic fever, hantavirus, leptospirosis, plague, rat-bite fever, salmonella, and Shigella, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. These illnesses are spread through bites and contaminated fecal matter in food and water.

Some rodent species – squirrels, rats, and mice – have fleas and ticks that spread to domestic cats and dogs. The fleas hop from rodent to rodent and rodent to domestic animals. This is a continuous process, resulting in a higher number of new parasitic infestation cases in Washington DC.

Mice And Electrical Fires

Mice and rats have also been associated with electrical fires in homes and businesses. The fires are contributed to the rodents gnawing through the cover utilized to protect electrical wiring. When the rodents gnaw through the wiring, the damage is generally limited to the plastic or vinyl covering, resulting in electrical wiring exposure. When insulation and other materials come into contact with the exposed hot wiring, it can result in an electrical fire.

Electrical fires related to rodents are generally reported in attics, basements, and crawlspaces. It is crucial to inspect these areas immediately upon detection of rodents in your home or business.

Why Is A Rodent Infestation Dangerous?

• Electrical fire hazard
• Structural damage
• Foodborne illnesses

Rodent infestation is extremely dangerous in homes and businesses. Once rodent infiltration has been detected, all structural components and occupants are at risk. Rodent-borne illnesses and structural damage related to continuous gnawing put every member of the household in danger.

What Is The Most Effect Rodent Extermination Strategy?

Rodent infestation is extremely difficult to fully eradicate. Our exterminators are fully trained to handle mild to severe infestation of rats and mice. We believe the key to achieving full eradication is a custom treatment. We combine adhesive traps with an industrial-strength rodent bait to ensure efficiency on all levels.

We initiate every rodent treatment with a visual inspection of the impacted property. During the inspection, a pest control expert visually assesses areas where non-refrigerated food is stored, electrical wiring in basements, crawlspaces, and attics, underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, and the areas near appliances.

Once the inspection is complete, the exterminators begin to compile the collected data, which will be utilized to develop a custom rodent control strategy. We believe custom rat management is the most effective extermination strategy available to Washington DC consumers.

How Do I Schedule A Rodent Inspection In Washington DC?

There are several ways to schedule your free rodent inspection in Washington DC. Our customer support team can be reached via social media, email, and landline. Our business hours are Monday through Friday and some weekends.

Our service request process takes between 24 and 48 hours to complete. A representative will reach out to you, regarding an appointment within 48 hours in most cases.

Does Conventional Rodent Bait Have A Chemical Base?

Yes, conventional rodent bait does contain chemicals that are capable of eradicating mice and rats with 24 and 48 hours of ingestion. A-naphthylthiourea “ANTU,” arsenic trioxide, chloralose, crimidine, and chloralose are chemicals commonly found in rat bait.

To minimize the risks associated with chemical-based rodent bait, our pest control company only invests in brands approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA-approved rodent bait brands can be administered with minimal risks.

We educate our clients on the health risks associated with rodent bait. We highly recommend vacating the property prior to each treatment. We never place chemical rat baits in high-risk areas, such as areas where food is prepared and served.

How Can Clients Assist Exterminators In The Rodent Management Process?

We believe any rodent extermination strategy will not be 100 percent effective without the client’s assistance. No one knows the property like the owner and other occupants. Rodent infestation is one of the most difficult pest problems to resolve. With the client’s help, our exterminators can achieve so much more than when working alone.

The client can help by repairing and updating the structural components responsible for keeping rodents out of the home. Doors, windows, floors, ceilings, and walls are just a few examples. When rodents target a home, they will stop at nothing until it is infiltrated. Rats and mice gnaw through subfloors, floors, and exterior and interior walls to access the essentials – food, water, and shelter.

Once the rodents have achieved what they set out to do, the rest is up to the owner. Being a victim of rodents is something most people never give a second thought. When it finally happens, it is a shock to the system. Being prepared will put you a step ahead in the process.

• Repair all structural damage
• Create metal barriers between the home and rodents
• Develop a household waste disposal routine
• Transitioning from manufacturing packaging to glass, stainless steel, and heavy-duty plastic storage containers
• Make it a habit to clean up after each meal

We believe it is possible to eradicate a rodent infestation by removing the food and water supplies. This effort, combined with industrial-strength rodent baits and adhesive traps.

Early detection is the best way to approach rodents after home infiltration. We offer free inspections, consultations, and written quotes per appointment only.

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