Types of Rodents In Maine
Here in Maine, we have our fair share of house-infesting rodents and while they all have the same MO and that’s to find food, water, and shelter, they look and behave differently. In today’s blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at a few of the more common rodent problems property owners in Maine may run into.
Deer Mouse
About the same size as house mice, deer mice usually have brown fur with white underbellies and legs. They have big ears, a pointed nose, and larger and rounder eyes than house mice. They also have hairless tails.
Deer mice are more likely to be found in rural areas that have lots of grassy fields. While they typically prefer outdoor environments, Maine residents may find them in their homes, garages, or even barns when the weather gets too cold and survival becomes more challenging.
Norway Rat
Larger than mice by several inches, Norway rats often exceed a foot in length (this measurement includes their tails). They are heavily-bodied rats with brown fur that has black hairs scattered about. They have small ears set close together, a blunt nose and small eyes.
As is the case with house mice, Norway rats are not good houseguests and will inflict damage to homes, camps, and outbuildings as well as commercial facilities. They have a tendency to stick to lower levels, leaving the climbing for the more adept roof rats. That said, they can climb.
Roof Rat
Long and lean, roof rats are approximately 6-8 inches in length but their tails add another several inches. They have black fur and paler bellies. Roof rats have large ears and eyes, a pointed nose, and a scaly tail.
As their name suggests, roof rats have a proclivity for infesting upper levels of structures. Like other types of rodents, they gnaw on anything they can a hold of and the end result can range from minor issues to major structural damage.
Rodents in Maine are a health threat as well
All four of the rodents mentioned above are vectors of serious diseases and health issues including salmonella (food poisoning) and are capable of contaminating food and surfaces with their feces and urine. Additionally, they can carry fleas and ticks.
How can Advanced Pest Solutions help you get rid of rodents?
That’s a great question and one we’d be happy to answer. If you’ve seen a mouse or other type of rodent scurrying out of reach in your home or business, simply give us a call. We’ll send out a pest control specialist (very likely one of our owners) to have a conversation with you about what you’re seeing and where you’re seeing it. From there, we’ll perform a thorough inspection to identify the type of rodent and where they are hiding, assess the severity of the infestation, pinpoint hotspots, and locate conducive conditions. Once we have a good idea of what’s going on, we’ll explain our findings and recommend a solution that will resolve your rodent problem.
For greater protection against mice and rats, we recommend signing up for a home pest control plan!
If you live in an area that is prone to rodent activity, you’re likely to find yourself battling mice and rats off and on throughout the year. That is, unless you sign up for a home pest control program with Advanced! Our locally owned and operated pest control company offers year-round home pest control services in Litchfield, Topsham, and Gardiner as well as throughout central and coastal Maine that take care of rodents as well as other house-infesting pests. To find out how we can help you, simply give us a shout today!