Got a Mouse in Your Business? Five Most Common Rodents

We’re not the only ones that cozy up indoors when cold weather looms. Rats and mice also shack up inside during the winter months. By the time spring flowers bloom, these speedy breeders may have already taken over your business.

Before you begin preparations for the fall and winter months, you need to know which pests might try to burrow into your business. Here are the rodents you’re most likely to see scurrying out of sight (to learn more about the risks they pose to your business, download our report, RATS! A Guide to Avoiding Rodents at Your Business):

• House mouse – Clocking record speeds of 12 feet per second, these mice are commonly found darting across the floors of our homes and businesses. House mice will eat just about anything, and you can distinguish them from other rodents by their moderately large ears and tails as long as their bodies and heads – combined.

• Norway rat – This rodent usually keeps out of sight and lurks near the sewer. If a Norway rat decides to show its face during the day, you (and your customers) won’t miss it. Also called the “King Rat,” these rats often measure over 15 inches in length with tails shorter than their bodies.

• Roof rat – No place is safe from rodents. While Norway rats reign supreme underground, roof rats make their home in high places, like attics, rafters and trees. Unlike Norway rats, these large rats have long tails to help them balance.

• Deer mouse – Rodents aren’t contained to just the city. Deer mice actually prefer rural areas, and they help us out by eating pests like spongy moths and cut worms. Don’t be fooled, though. These tiny mice are known to transmit dangerous diseases like Hantavirus.

• Field mouse – These mice are often scooped up by predatory birds, but they make up for it by producing as many as 17 litters per year. You can tell field mice apart from other rodents by their small, stocky bodies and short tails.

No matter your business or location, there’s a rodent waiting to gnaw into your bottom line. And the damage they can cause isn’t worth the risk. Learn how to shut the door on these dirty vermin with our free guide to rodents and rodent control.