Rodent Identification & Prevention

Rodents are mammals that have two pairs of continuously growing front incisors. Below is a brief description of our area’s most problematic rodents: mice, rats, and voles.

Mice are small rodents that have oval-shaped bodies and small triangular heads. Their ears and tails are covered in a light layer of velvety fur. Adult rats are bigger in size than adult mice. They have large blunt heads, and their ears and long scaly tails are hairless. The vole (meadow mouse) has a small, stocky body and short fur-covered tails. Other physical characteristics include four short legs, small eyes, and ears partially hidden by their dark fur.

The mole is a small, furry pest often grouped with rodents. However, while moles are mammals, they are not rodents. Moles lack the constantly growing front incisors that all rodents have. Moles are insectivores that regularly find a way to our Michigan properties.

Rodents can pose serious dangers, and at the first notice of them, you need to take action to eliminate them.

Mice and rats are generally the most problematic since they regularly find their way inside our structures. Mice and rats are destructive, disease-spreading pests that we must proactively keep out of our homes. 

• Rats and mice spread diseases, viruses, and parasites, contaminating food and surfaces inside our houses. 
• Their shed hair and excrement spread allergens. 
• Using their sharp front incisors, rodents cause damage to the structure of our houses and personal belongings. 

Moles and voles are the most problematic to our yards. The tunnels they create cause damage to grass, plants, and trees. Their presence can damage the aesthetics of our yards and decrease curb appeal.

Rodents regularly find their way to our properties to forage for food and water and build nesting sites within our yards, gardens, and flowerbeds.

Voles and moles like to live outside in the outdoor spaces that surround our homes and rarely, if ever, move inside. However, mice and rats like to move into our homes, especially to escape unpleasant weather and predators. They also like to use our homes as a safe place to nest and raise their young. Food odors also draw rats and mice indoors.

Once rodents discover your property offers them the things they need to survive, they won’t be in any hurry to move elsewhere. A rodent infestation, left unchecked, can quickly lead to costly damage and serious health risks for you and your family.

Where you are most likely to run into rodents depends on their species. Each species has different wants and needs when it comes to their preferred habitats.

Mice and rats live outside in tall grass, dense vegetation, woodpiles, brush piles,  dumpsters, and construction debris. Rodents in Michigan often decide to take cover inside our houses, sheds, and garages to escape winter’s colder temperatures. Inside structures, rodents take shelter in dark, quiet, dry areas. Attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, and closets regularly house rodents.

Moles live under the ground, spending their days foraging for earthworms and insects. They build detailed tunnels with separate living, sleeping, and storage quarters. Moles regularly find their way into our yards from neighboring properties. Homes next to meadows, parks, athletic fields, or other open grassy areas are most susceptible to mole infestations.

Voles also like to live in open sunny areas. They dig shallow tunnels or runways in areas of tall grass that they use to move to and from their food sources to underground burrows. Voles and moles are more likely to be a problem in rural or suburban areas than in urban ones.

Discovering rodent droppings, hearing noises behind walls, or smelling foul musty odors in your home should alert you to a potential rodent infestation. 

Once rodents become comfortable inside our homes, getting them to leave is difficult. If you suspect rodent activity on your property, immediately reach out to First Choice Pest Control for assistance with home pest control and commercial pest control services. Through thorough inspections and treatments specific to the rodents on your property, we will get rid of rodents and help you stop their future return. Don’t live with rodents one day longer than necessary; call today for help with removing rodents from your Brighton home.

Here are some simple rodent prevention tips to keep these problematic pests away from your home:

• Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of your home using materials like caulk, steel wool, or metal flashing.
• Inspect secondhand items, storage boxes, and deliveries for hiding rodents before bringing them into your home. 
• Store firewood away from your home.
• Cut back dense vegetation and shrubbery from your home.
• Keep your lawn mowed short.

For rodent control near you, give First Choice Pest Control a call!