What is that noise in the attic?
In the cold winter months, Rats, mice, and squirrels are scurrying around to gather nuts and food to store for the winter. While looking for food these furry little rodents are also looking for a warm place to call home for the winter. Food and water are two of the major requirements of the rodents to be able to survive the cold; they also have to have a warm place to call home. This is where your attic comes in to play. Most often Rats mice and squirrels choose the easiest entry into your home, (the attic). Attics serve as a perfect place for the rodents to nest and have babies. Some types of rats and mice can have as many as ten per litter and have 8 to 10 liters per year. These rodents can infest anything and everything from old clothing and furniture to dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, and ultimately the entire house. Here are a few differences in rats and mice that we normally encounter. The roof rat has a tail that is the length of the body, a pointed nose, big ears, and droppings that are about ½ inch in length. The Norway rat has small ears, a blunt nose, a tail that is shorter than the body, and droppings that are about ¾ inch in length. The house mouse is much smaller, has big ears, a blunt nose, and droppings that are about a ¼ inch in length. Rats only need a hole about the size of a quarter to enter the structure, whereas mice only need a hole about the size of a dime. The best method of controlling and removing the rodents is a process called rodent exclusion. This along with baiting and trapping program is most often the most reliable and effective way to not only control the rodents, but to permanently get rid of the…