Classic Insulation & Pest Control

Field Mouse

Pest

Field Mouse

Pest Category

Rodent

Do they carry disease?

Yes

Do they cause structural damage?

Yes

Other damage

Damage to ducting/insulation, electrical wiring and plumbing in and around structures. Can also infest items within a structure such as furniture, automobiles...anywhere a safe and quiet, harborage can be found.

Signs to look for

Noises at night are a sure sign. Foraging and building of nests at night is a common habit of most rodents. Droppings and urine stain in attic and crawlspace insulation as well as smudges caused by rats and mice entering in and out of an opening consistently. Their fur is rather oily and that oil rubs off when they come in and out of the same opening, eventually leaving a dark colored smudge. One of the best indicators of a rat and/or mouse infestation is noise. Scratching, clawing sounds in the late evening and early morning hours. Often times customers hear noises coming from the heat ducting that runs underneath or above the structure. Both rats and mice tend to make nests in the insulation around the ducting and the floor registers because that area tends to be warmed by the heat from the furnace. Household pets will scratch, stare and sit by floor registers because they can hear the rodent activity. When a pet begins to do this it is a good sign that something is wrong.

Where they are noticed?

Predominantly attics, basements, garages and crawlspaces, as well as the outdoors.

Habits

"Field mice (also known as voles) are not the climbers that House Mice are. They have blunt noses, furry ears and shorter, stubbier tales. They are not found inside as commonly as house mice and are easier to control in most cases. Usually they are found on the 1st story of structures

If Untreated...

Rodents are often adaptive enough to live close with man, where they can cause minor to severe damage. This damage can be structural to a home with nesting behaviors. The constant growth of a rodent’s teeth throughout its life requires them to consistently maintain this growth by chewing on wiring, drywall, and internal structural components of a home or business. In most cases the rodents are a constant problem throughout the year, but certain times of the year are more problematic. Colder weather often escalates the problem, when these rodents begin to seek shelter and warmth. Being that most rodents are omnivores, there are a myriad of options for them to feed, and a food source will keep them around. Rodents are often very consistent in their behaviors including the use of the same paths throughout a home or business.

Tips

Bird feeders and pet food left outside are a magnet for these animals. A strong rodent control program needs to incorporate the following: Thorough inspection to determine the type of rodent that is being addressed. Finding and sealing the holes that rodents are using to enter the structure. The use of bait and traps and other applicable rodent control measures. Continuous monitoring of the baiting, trapping and other measures installed, as a deceased rodent is still a possible food source and source of unpleasant odor withing the structure. Finally, identify and address the conditions that led to the infestation. There are also possible concerns to humans concerning living conditions.

photos of damage and/or infestations