Rodents are a constant problem to homeowners in Milwaukee and the surrounding parts of southeastern Wisconsin. Their instincts can make them very difficult to control and they can present a serious problem when they infest your home. Rodents are naturally wary of predators and can go unnoticed in homes and sometimes are only identified by the droppings that they leave behind. Rodents regularly urinate and defecate while they move around your homes. This is one of the biggest issues of not addressing your rodent problems. Mouse droppings that are left inside and around homes can actually attract other mice to the area. It’s important to inspect the home to figure out where the mice are entering. Rodent infestations are often found in the sills of your basement where the insulation is kept. These areas need to be inspected to determine if your home has a mouse problem. Did you know that rodents don’t have great eyesight? They make up for it by having a tremendous sense of smell which can help them locate food, access to your home, and can sense danger. Wisconsin’s two most popular rodents are the Norway Rat and the House Mouse. Here are some things that you should know about these two pests:
RATS
Difficult to Control: Rats are instinctively wary of new traps and bait; this is often referred to as bait shyness. Rats can be difficult to control due to their ability to detect poison in some cases. Roof rats often colonize in attics, but in the Milwaukee area and the rest of Wisconsin we don’t see roof rats. Roof rats are generally found out on the west coast. Our Norway rats typically live in burrows, under concrete slabs and porches, in wall voids and other hard to reach places in and around your home. Some areas in Wisconsin where we find rat infestations include Wauwatosa, near Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, and also areas where work is being performed on sewer systems. Often areas where proper sanitation is not practiced, such as a restaurant dumpster, can be a location where rats will visit regularly and make their home nearby.
Disease: The #1 reason for eliminating rats from your home/building is that rats can harbor and transmit a number of serious diseases. These diseases can be transmitted to humans through their urine and droppings. The #1 source for food contamination in the world is rats/mice! They can also introduce disease-carrying parasites such as fleas, lice, and ticks into your home.
Proper Control Methods: Rats have a highly developed taste sensitivity. If the rodent baits are contaminated with insecticide odors or other chemicals and are not properly/professional placed, this may lead to bait rejection. We wouldn’t recommend a homeowner trying to deal with rats on their own. Rats are extremely difficult to catch and sometimes even outsmart the professionals.
MICE
Access: Mice will invade your home seeking warmth, housing, water, and sometimes food. In most cases the number #1 reason that mice are in your home has nothing to do with sanitation practices around the home. Sometimes the cleanest homes have the biggest mouse issues. This can be very upsetting for the homeowner. However, most mice seek warmth and a home rather than food. This is why Advanced Wildlife and Pest Controls sealing of your home is so vital for proper mouse control. After all mice can enter through holes in your home that are only 1/4 of an inch wide!
Population Control: One pair of mice can produce 200 offspring in four months! Mice are capable of having babies at any time of the year and this includes winter. Often times we are called out to homes in winter because they have seen baby mice running around in the kitchen.
Disease/Contamination: The USDA has said billions of dollars of damage occurs each year through contamination of food from mice and that doesn’t even include residential homes! Mice can cause sickness in your home by urinating on or near your food. In some cases mice enter the kitchen drawers and make their way over your utensils. This can go unnoticed and cause you or your family sickness due to contamination from the mice!