Rats Or Mice; Which Is Worse To Have In My Beaumont Home?

Would you rather have a house full of rats or a house full of mice? The answer here is neither! Although you may have a personal opinion on which of these rodents is worse, the truth is both are dangerous and damaging. A rodent infestation can have a huge impact on the health of your family and the condition of your home. Here are some of the dangers of a rodent infestation, along with some prevention tips and information on what to do if you have a rodent infestation.

Identifying Mice and Rats

Before you decide which kind of rodent is worse to have in your home, you need to know a little about each. You’ll almost never have an infestation of rats and mice at the same time. So, if you think there are rodents in your home, this might help you tell them apart. Rats are the larger of the two, some species of rats can grow to be over a foot long! They may range in color from brown to black and often have greasy fur. They tend to have a larger head and larger feet compared to their bodies. In contrast, mice have longer tails and larger ears than rats. Mice are smaller, typically only four inches long. They are usually light grey or brown with a lighter underbelly.

Which Is Worse?

Neither rats nor mice are better or worse to have in your home. Both of these rodents can cause unique problems for your home and family. Rats are larger and can be more aggressive. If they feel threatened, they may even bite.  Because of their size, a single rat can cause more damage to a home than a single mouse.

However, mice are more prolific than rats and multiply quickly. You’ll almost never have a single mouse in your house but instead can find yourself fighting off many, many mice at once. Mice can hide more easily and get into more areas of your home because they are smaller.

When it comes to rodent dangers, it’s important to note that both mice and rats are associated with several diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Plus, both mice and rats need to gnaw constantly, meaning that either of these rodents will chew on furniture, belongings, food, and even the walls of your Beaumont home. The damage from a rodent infestation can be severe.

Rodent Prevention

Preventing an infestation takes three steps: removing entry points, removing food, and removing hiding places.

• Check the exterior of your home for holes and cracks that might be letting rodents in. Replace torn screens and cover vents.
• Store food in airtight containers made of hard plastic or glass. Never leave food sitting out overnight, even dog food might attract rodents.
• Organize storage areas such as basements and closets so that there are fewer hiding places. Check these areas for signs of rodent presence and nests.

Eliminating Rats And Mice

If rats or mice get into your home, call Bill Clark Pest Control. We’ll first come by for an inspection. During this inspection, we’ll help you identify what rodent is in your home. We’ll then help you find entry points or attracting factors that may have brought the rodents to your house. Our treatment will be focused on your home, and it will include exclusionary techniques and habitat modifications to keep rodents away long-term.

 

We can’t tell you whether it’s more dangerous to have mice or rats in your home. We can tell you that both are dangerous. We can also tell you that we have experience dealing with rats and mice and that we’re happy to use our experience to save your home from any kind of rodent infestation.