Rats Facts

Question: Did you know that rats can enter your home through a space as small as your thumb?

Two of the most common species of rats found in Georgia are the Roof Rat and the Norway Rat. They can carry a multitude of diseases, including: rat bite fever, Eosinophilic Meningitis, Murine Typhus, and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Rats can also cause structural and electrical damage from chewing. Rats are nocturnal and they colonize in smaller numbers. They frequently inhabit areas such as attics, walls interiors, crawl spaces and basements.

Our control includes trapping them, then baiting as necessary, as well as creating exclusions (barrier in their crawl spaces, tunnels, holes). 

Norway Rat

The Norway rat is the largest of rodents, and can average up to 1 pound, and 9.5 inches long. Their fur is coarse and can be brown or gray. They are also known as brown rats, sewer or wharf rats and just plain house rats.

Not only do they eat exposed foods, they contaminate them. Watch for gnaw marks, droppings, damaged food packages. They are especially fond of cereals and dog food, but will eat just about anything, including meats. 

Roof Rat

The Roof Rat is smaller and more frequently found close to coastal areas of the U.S. The average up to 7 inches, have softer fur (brown or black), and also damage materials, contaminate food and pass along diseases.

These nocturnal rodents live in social colonies in the top floors (attics) of buildings, or trees. They prefer to eat seeds and nuts, berries and other insects.

Mice Facts

Fact: Mice can fit through a space as small as the tip of your pinky finger!

Their food of choice is seeds, or insects, though they will eat stored items with easy access. In addition to damaging materials, they will eat and contaminate stored food. Watch for marks from gnawing, droppings, burrows, shredded packages or materials.

Mice are the most common of in-house rodents found. Adults are only about three inches long, and gray with white stomachs, and they like to inhabit dark and quiet spaces. The 2 more common species found in Georgia are the Deer Mouse and the White-Footed Mouse.

Where there's one, there are generally many more. We will trap and then bait, according to location and the size. Exclusion is best for prevention.

Deer Mouse

Deer mice are common within homes in rural settings, and are a primary carrier of hantavirus. About 3-4 inches long, they run from grey to reddish-brown. They like to nest in trees and logs, but can be found indoors in cabinets, furniture, and attics. They may also damage furnishings (in addition to stored goods) in the process of feeding and nesting.

White-Footed Mouse

Also a structural pest which frequents suburban locations near woods, they carry hantavirus as well. The build their nests in quiet areas like abandoned burrows. They are prone to come inside and nest during cold seasons.

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