Let Ramer tackle the rodents
Few pests prompt as strong of an emotional response as rodents. Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be
be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/richochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic.
Many people are afraid of mice and other rodents. No matter if it’s fear or simply not liking the idea of them in your home or business, if you’ve got rodents, get Ramer Pest Control!
With Ramer, There’s No Mouse In The House.
Mice are not only a nuisance, but their continuous gnawing can damage wires, walls, and woodwork; they can eat and contaminate stored food; and their parasites and feces can cause salmonellosis (food poisoning), rickettsia pox, and other diseases. The house mouse is the most commonly encountered and economically important rodent pest. If you spot evidence of a rodent infestation, act fast. Mice reproduce quickly, and a small problem will turn into a large infestation if left untreated.
The same is true for rats. Rats are not only frightening, but can transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. Rats pose a serious threat to human health and can cause considerable damage to property and your reputation.
Got voles? Get Ramer.
Voles, also known as field mice or lawn rodents, are small brown rodents that are about the size and shape of a mouse with a short tail. Voles create both above-ground and underground passageways in the soil, while feeding mostly on vegetation, causing damage to not only your grass, but also your gardens and flowerbeds. Voles can also harm small trees and shrubs by chewing on the bark.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE MICE?
- Mice can often be seen or heard and you can also see their droppings.
- Droppings are about 1/8” to 1⁄4” in length and rod shaped.
CAN MY HOUSE BE DAMAGED BY MICE?
- Yes. Mice are “gnawers”. Since their front teeth continually grow and only gnawing keeps their teeth short, mice will gnaw on anything including walls, molding, ceiling tiles, and wires.
- Rodents are believed to be a significant cause of fires where the cause is undetermined.
- Mice can damage ceiling tile with their urine.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE RATS?
- Rats are primarily nocturnal (active at night), so they are rarely seen. More often, it is their tell-tale signs that indicate a rat infestation, including:
- Rat droppings – shiny black, blunt at both ends; and 1⁄2” – 3⁄4” in length – similar in size and shape to a grain of rice. (Mice droppings are smaller and have pointed ends)
- Rat tracks – foot prints and tail tracks in dusty corners and along baseboards.
- Gnawed wood – Rat teeth leave marks approximately 1/8” in length, which are typically larger than marks left by mice.
- Rub marks – rats often leave smudges of grease and dirt along baseboards, rafters, tight passageways, and on pipes and corners.
- Rat nests – -rats will make nests in burrows, attics, and even wall cavities by shredding soft materials such as cloth, cardboard, and insulation.
- Rat odor – a rat or mouse infestation often creates a musky odor.
- Rat noises – scratching, squeaks, gnawing, clawing, and other unusual sounds you hear during the night might be rats.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE VOLES?
- Voles create both above-ground and underground passageways in the soil. Criss- crossing surface runways are one of the easiest ways to identify a vole infestation. If you are seeing destructive activity in your lawn in springtime, it is more likely a vole.
- Voles feed mostly on vegetation, causing damage to not only your grass but also to your gardens and flowerbeds.
CAN MY YARD BE DAMAGED BY VOLES?
- Voles destroy landscaping, killing as much as 50% of a lawn over a winter.
- Voles will also destroy flower beds, girdle fruit trees, and kill vegetable gardens from the roots up.
- Voles will also dig small holes approximately 1 inch in diameter to reach tubers and bulbs.
- Voles will chew the bark of trees and shrubs. Look for 1⁄4 inch side-by-side grooves in the wood near the ground, left by the vole’s front teeth.
Fort Wayne Indiana
