Rodents

What are rodents?

Rodents are the single largest group of mammals in the world. In fact, most non-flying mammals are categorized as rodents. These animals are adaptable and can be found living on all continents except Antarctica, and can live in almost any indoor or outdoor environment. Common examples of rodents include chipmunks, groundhogs, hamsters, mice, rats, squirrels, and guinea pigs. All rodents are characterized by a single pair of front incisors in their upper and lower jaw that continuously grow throughout their life. To prevent their teeth from overgrowing, rodents are constantly gnawing on anything they can get their teeth on, leading them to be quite destructive.

Are rodents dangerous?

Rodents are considered to be dangerous pests for several reasons. When they invade residential and commercial properties, they have the potential to contaminate food sources, dishes, utensils, and the surfaces of homes with their urine, feces, and saliva. They are responsible for spreading a wide variety of diseases and bacteria to people, including Hantavirus, dysentery, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis. In addition, they create a lot of structural damage by chewing on and damaging furniture, flooring, drywall, insulation, walls, pictures, and books. They also have the potential to cause fires and water damage by chewing through pipes, wires, and ducts.

Why do I have a rodent problem?

Rodents are adaptable creatures and are relentless in their search for food, water, and shelter. In reality, almost any home or property can become a home to rodents. Rodents are a year-round threat but tend to have a greater desire to move indoors during the cold winter months. Rodents enter homes in a variety of ways, including through gaps in the foundation, exterior walls, holes along the roofline, vents, spaces around utility lines, and down the chimney. Properties with vegetable and fruit gardens, compost piles, pet food, open garbage cans, outdoor eating areas, bird seed, bird baths, clogged gutters, wild animal feeders, wood piles, and overgrown vegetation are eye-catching to rodents.

Where will I find rodents?

Outside, rodents nest in trees, woodpiles, under decks and foundations, along the edges of rivers, in trash piles, tree stumps, dense vegetation, or in abandoned animal nests. Inside homes, rodents like to nest in dark, quiet areas that are close to food sources. Rodents build their nests behind walls, in attics or basements, inside crawlspaces, inside storage boxes, behind appliances, or underneath sinks.

How do I get rid of rodents?

The best way to solve your your northern New Jersey property's rodent problem is to partner with a local pest control company. When you partner with Heritage Pest Control, our reliable and friendly professionals will be at your home within 24 hours to assess the infestation and recommend treatment. We are proud to provide all of our customers reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly pest solutions. To learn more about our New Jersey rodent control services, reach out to us!

How can I prevent rodents in the future?

Listed below is a quick prevention guide to help make your home and property as unappealing as possible to rodents:

• Outdoor trash containers should have tight-fitting lids and should be regularly cleaned and sanitized.

• Maintain garden and compost areas. Place them a distance away from the outside of your home.

• Remove excess debris and bird feeders from your property.

• Keep outdoor eating areas cleaned up.

• Trim tree branches, bushes, and shrubs away from the outside of your home.

• Make sure any damage to your home’s roof or roofline is repaired. Place a cap on all chimneys.

• Seal cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation and exterior walls.

• Fill in spaces around utilities entering into your home from the outside.