When you come across a "No Trespassing" sign, what goes through your mind? Do you think, "I'm going to go onto their land and see what happens?" or "I'd better not go onto their land because I might get into serious trouble"? When most people see signs warning them to stay off someone's property, they find an alternative route. If only that were true of rodents.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if rodents could read, and all we had to do was to post a "No Rodent Trespassing" sign in our Tampa yards, and the rodents would avoid our property? Of course, that is not the reality of our world. Rodents cannot read; if they could, they'd probably still ignore the warning signs if they thought food, water, and shelter were available.
Since warning signs will not keep rodents away, you need rodent control in Tampa from EcoTech. We are a locally owned and operated QualityPro Certified company. Less than 5% of pest control companies nationwide have earned this certification from the Foundation for Professional Pest Management. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a nationwide association of over 5,000 pest control members, endorses this independent organization. A QualityPro Certified company must meet and exceed 16 local, state, and federal pest control regulations, have a drug-free workplace, and have employees who pass a background check. When you partner with EchoTech to remove rodents in your Tampa home, you work with the best in the pest control industry.
Now that you know about us, let's focus on the potential rodent infestation in your house. Please keep reading to identify the rodent species invading your home, why you need to quickly remove them, and get tips to prevent future infestations.
Common Rodent Species: Identifying Different Types Of Rodents
Before we learn about the specific different types of rodents in the Tampa area, we need to understand the characteristics of these warm-blooded animals. The distinguishing feature of rodents is an upper and lower pair of constantly growing incisor teeth. Since these teeth continually grow, rodents gnaw on surrounding objects to keep them from becoming unmanageable. For example, the incisor teeth of rats increase about four inches yearly, and a rat will eventually starve to death because it cannot eat due to overgrown teeth if it does not trim its teeth. When they chew on objects, the hard enamel front and soft dentine backside of their incisor teeth create a razor's edge. Thus, rodents can chew through plastic, glass, thin metals, wood, and roots. Wild rodents (e.g., beavers) can cut down small trees using these razor-sharp teeth.
Some rodents are wild animals that avoid human contact, but commensal rodents do not mind sharing space with humans. Rats and mice are in this category and are common invaders of Tampa homes. You may wonder what kind of rats and mice are entering houses, so let's get deeper into the specifics.
Three rat species are problematic in Florida: Norway, roof, and wood rats. Norway rats have a 7 to 9 1/2-inch long body covered with brown fur interspersed with black hairs on the topside; underneath, Norway rats have a grey or white belly. This nocturnal rat species has a blunt muzzle, small eyes and ears, and a 6 to 8-inch tail. Norway rats are content to live outside in burrows underneath yard debris, but when adverse weather conditions occur, they try to enter homes. If Norway rats find entry access, they gravitate to the basement and lower floors, where they live underneath undisturbed materials.
Roof rats have a slightly smaller 6 to 8-inch body with the same coloration as Norway rats with the additional possibility of a black belly. These rats have scaly 6 to 8-inch tails, large ears and eyes, and thin bodies. Roof rats use tree branches and shrubbery to access the upper floors and attics of homes where they live underneath debris and insulation.
Wood rats, also known as trade and pack rats, have the same body characteristics as Norway rats but have a hair tail rather than a scaly one. These rats pick up shiny objects (nuts, bolts, nails, etc.) and carry them to their nests, hence the name "trade rats." Wood rats typically live outside but occasionally invade homes.
House mice are another rodent that invades Tampa homes. These 2 1/2 to 3 3/4-inch cream-colored rodents have a round body, large ears, pointed muzzle, and an additional 2 3/4 to 4-inch tail. Although there are other mice species, most mice infestations are from house mice due to their high reproductive rate. These mice prefer to live inside homes in dark, secluded areas in nests constructed from paper, fabrics, insulation, etc.
Whether you have rats or mice, EcoTech has the experience and tools to rid your Tampa home of all types of pet rodents.
Rodents And Your Health: What You Need To Know
The fur that covers the bodies of rats and mice is oil and attracts dirt, grim, and disease-causing organisms. These rodents forage in sewers, drains, trash, compost piles, and animal feces for organic plant and animal matter. As they move through these unsanitary locations, bacteria and viruses stick to their fur. Furthermore, fleas, ticks, and other parasitic insects live in these areas; insects that jump, quest, or crawl onto their bodies as the rodents root around.
Rodents are active at night; however, they do not have good eyesight. Therefore, the combination of a dark environment and the inability to see results in the rodents bumping against objects as they move through the house and leave pathogen-filled grease marks. All living create defecate, and rodents are no exception. Rodents spread infected urine and feces as they walk through cabinets and on the top of countertops. Due to their desire to gnaw, they leave bacteria-laden saliva on foods and packaging materials.
Leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, salmonellosis, jaundice, cowpox virus, and trichinosis are diseases spread by rats and mice. Fleas and ticks transmit some of the same bacterial and viral infections, plus additional ones; they also spread tapeworms, particularly to children and pets.
Rodent fecal matter may cause additional health problems when it dries and circulates through the ventilation system. When occupants inhale fecal particles, they may experience allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
EcoTech protects your family's health from infectious diseases and other rodent-caused maladies by a rodent infestation in your house.
Proactive Rodent Control: Preventing Infestations Before They Begin
When you notice rodents in your house, you likely have an infestation. For example, one female house mouse produces six pups every three weeks. Although rats have a slower reproductive rate, a roof rat can deliver up to 40 offspring during its lifespan. Furthermore, rodents are social creatures, which means they often live with other rodents or have adjoining nests nearby.
The best way to stop an infestation from occurring is to apply these rodent prevention tips:
- Remove debris from the property
- Provide proper drainage to gutters, ditches, and low-lying areas
- Pick up rotting fruit and animal feces in the yard
- Keep outdoor and indoor garbage containers closed
- Seal gaps in the foundation, along the roofline, and between incoming pipes and wires
- Prune tree branches and shrubs away from the house
- Install exterior door sweeps
- Cover the crawl space and attic vents with wire mesh
Rodents enter homes during adverse weather conditions for food, water, and shelter. Maintaining a clean house by regularly vacuuming, suctioning corners and cracks, removing debris piles, and repairing leaking plumbing fixtures and pipes will deter them from entering your Tampa home.
When an EcoTech Green Pro Specialist inspects your Tampa home for Florida rodents, we can provide additional tips to stop a future infestation based on your situation.
Professional Pest Control: The Most Effective Rodent Control Solution
Many people soon learn that a store-bought rodent trap will not resolve their problem. Although there is instant gratification when you hear the snapping sound, there is more to ending a rodent problem than a couple of traps.
We send a Green Pro Specialist to your Tampa home with the information you provide concerning your rodent problem. Our specialist will inspect your home for entry points, attractants, and rodent hot spots. We will also identify the rodent species invading the house so we can create a targeted plan.
Our professional rodent extermination process involves strategically placing glue boards and traps; we also lay granules around the home's perimeter to deter outside rodents from entering. We return every two weeks to inspect and clear the snares and to monitor progress.
We know homeowners are busy, and some cannot physically implement exclusion methods, so we offer an exclusion service. This option involves a Green Pro Specialist sealing access points into the house using caulk, steel wool, carpenter cloth, and other chew-proof materials to prevent future rodent invasions. Our exclusion services also have a one-year warranty against future rodent invasions. Contact us today to learn more about our rodent removal services and schedule your free inspection.
