Raleigh might be one of the rattiest cities in the U.S., but the Triangle has several pest rodents that can cause havoc in your house.
Rodents in Wake County
Rodents make up the single largest group of mammals. Within the species diversity, all rodents have a single pair of incisors that continuously grow. To manage the incisors’ growth, rodents constantly gnaw. If you have a rodent infestation, the rats, mice, or squirrels will gnaw on your home. Property damage isn’t the only problem with a rodent infestation. Worldwide, rats and mice spread 35 different diseases.
Norway rats (common brown rats) are not as good of climbers as roof rats. You will likely find them in crawlspaces, basements, garages, and wall cavities. The adaptive foragers eat almost anything.
They are called “roof rats,” because they are great climbers and may use your roof to get in your attic. They won’t stay in your attic. They will travel all over lower-level floors, and roof rats in attics tend to spend their days between floors, in utility spaces, and above false ceilings.
House mice are slender. They are around four inches long and weigh less than half an ounce. They can enter your home through the smallest holes, of less than a quarter inch, by compressing their body and squeezing through.
The most common rodent anywhere in North Carolina is generally going to be the gray squirrel. You can see them practically anywhere in the Triangle in your backyard, along the American Tobacco Trail, and scampering across the Oak Grove in Moore Square.
Because they are so common, homeowners aren’t too bothered by seeing them. But they can cause problems when they get into your home. Squirrels can have two litters a year, and they look for shelter to build a nest. Your attic has ideal conditions for a squirrel nest
Often called field mice or meadow mice, voles live in grassy areas and dig expansive tunnel networks. They can become a nuisance when they tear up a yard that the owners intend to maintain. A single female vole can birth over 100 young per year.
Beavers are the largest rodent in North America in general. They use the felled trees for dams. Both the downed trees and flooded valleys resulting from their dams can be very destructive to property.
Rodent Removal in the Triangle
Rats and mice are some of the most common invaders to your house. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new construction or a historic landmark, rats and mice can find their way into your home. Rats and mice have several litters a year so one rodent can multiply into hundreds.
A few traps won’t solve your rodent problem. Effective rodent control includes monitoring, sanitation, exclusion, and population control with traps and rodenticides.
These homeowners noticed small, blunt droppings in their basement. During the inspection, we found evidence of Norway rats in their home including rat tracks and droppings. The rats had created a nest using rags and cardboard.
The foundation vent appeared to be their main point of entry. We installed a galvanized steel screen on foundation vents to keep the rats out.
Rodents like rats and mice can damage your house, spread diseases, and contaminate your food. But there’s another surprising reason for rodent removal.
Snakes! Snakes “eat where they live” meaning they don’t travel far. A snake is most likely in your home hunting for a food source (rodents).
Most Common Snakes of the Triangle
- Rat Snakes
- Garter Snakes
- Green Snake
- Corn Snake
- Rattlesnakes
Snake Exclusion Under Porch
Hardware cloth under the porch can keep most animals away. A smaller gauge will keep snakes, mice, and rats from creating a den or nest under your porch.
Trust the Wildlife Experts
A few traps placed around your kitchen will not solve the rodent problem. Rats and mice can get into every nook and cranny of your house. They reproduce at an astounding rate so one mouse can become many within a few months. Without solving the problem of how they got into your home in the first place, you’re at risk for another infestation.
The experts at Trutech Wildlife Service have the experience and training to identify all potential entry points and the appropriate material to keep rats or mice out. We provide an integrated approach unique to your home that efficiently takes care of the rodent infestation.
