Predator

We are the Best at Solving Rodent Problems

Rats and mice only come to your home because they were invited. It is important for every homeowner to know that mice typically nest within 4 to 6 meters of a food source and rats 30 to 50 meters. Why is this important? The source of a rodent infestation is important when determining the best possible solution.

Signs of a Rodent Infestation

• Rodent droppings found in the home.
• Pets bringing home a dead rodent
• Evidence rodents feeding on fruit/nuts that are in or falling from the trees in your yard
• Rats traveling along utility lines or on the tops of fences at dusk or soon after
• Rodents nesting material behind boxes or in drawers in the garage
• Smudge marks caused by the rodents rubbing their fur against beams, rafters, pipes, and walls
• Burrows anywhere in your yard or beneath the garbage can
• Noises in the roof throughout the night
• Drowned rat from your swimming pool or hot tub
• Evidence of chew marks on items in your pantry

When food, water, and shelter are available, rat populations can reproduce and grow quickly. While the most permanent form of control is to limit food, water, shelter, and access to your home, direct population reduction around your home is often necessary.

If any of the above signs exist, it is time to call Predator Pest Control professional to identify the extent of your infestation and more importantly to do something about it!!

Protecting Your Home from Rodents

• Be sure that outside garbage containers have tight fitting lids.
• Repair or replace damaged ventilation screens.
• Provide a tight fitting cover for the crawl space.
• Seal all openings around pipes, cables, and wires that enter through walls or the foundation.
• Be sure all window screens are in good condition.
• Make sure internal screens on roof and attic air vents are in good repair.
• Cover rooftop plumbing vent pipes in excess of 2 inches in diameter with screens over their tops.
• Make sure all exterior doors are tight fitting and weatherproofed at the bottom.
• Seal gaps beneath garage doors with a gasket or weather stripping.
• Install self-closing exits or screening to clothes dryer vents to the outside.
• Remember that pet doors into the house or garage provide an easy entrance for rodents.
• Keep side doors to the garage closed, especially at night.

House Mouse

Small, its body rarely exceeds two inches long and one ounce in weight. Usually gray in colour, but some may appear darker. Mice are more numerous than rats and are more widespread throughout urban and suburban communities. A mouse can be distinguished from a young rat since the rat's head and feet will be overly large in relation to its body. Mice are found in buildings more often than rats because they are smaller and are able to find more available entry ways into a building. Mice can fit through a crack or hole 1/4 of an inch or larger - or about the width of a pencil. Mice will make their nests in many areas in and around the home, especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris. House mice primarily feed on plant matter, but they will also accept meat and dairy products. Although they are generally known to like fruits, they are repelled by the scent of many varieties of artificial fruit scent, for example strawberry- or vanilla-scented candles.

Norway Rat

Larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10 to 12 inches. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound. The colour can vary from gray to brown to black. Rats are more prevalent in urban and rural areas, and are found in homes less often than mice because of their larger size. Outside, rats live in fields, wooded areas, vacant lots, farms, and just about anywhere people have buildings. Rats are seldom a problem in homes except in urban and rural areas. This is due in large part to their size, since rats need a hole about the size of a quarter in order to gain entry into a building. Rats however, may find harborage in many areas around the home - especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris.

Roof Rat

Roof Rats are larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10 to 12 inches. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound. The colour can vary from gray to brown to black. Found in coastal states, roof rats have long tails, thin bodies, and large eyes and ears. Rats are more prevalent in urban and rural areas, and are found in homes less often than mice because of their larger size. Outside, rats live in fields, wooded areas, vacant lots, farms, and just about anywhere people have buildings. Rats are seldom a problem in homes except in urban and rural areas. This is due in large part to their size, since rats need a hole about the size of a quarter in order to gain entry into a building. Rats however, may find harborage in many areas around the home - especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris. The food habits of roof rats resemble those of tree squirrels, since they both like a wide variety of fruit and nuts. They also feed on a variety of ornamental and native plant materials.