Rodent Identification & Prevention

What are rodents?

Rodents are, unfortunately, a common presence in many of our Las Vegas area homes and businesses. Mice, rats, and other rodents have come to view people as their partners and want to live near us.

Gophers, mice, Norway rats, and roof rats are examples of rodents that try to make themselves at home on our Las Vegas properties.

Gophers

Gophers are robust rodents that have stout bodies, short necks, and blunt noses. They have brown fur and use their short front legs to tunnel through the soil.

Mice

Mice have oval-shaped bodies covered in grayish-brown fur.They have large ears that stand up off their heads and long skinny tails. Their heads are triangular shaped, and they have pointed noses.

Norway Rats

Norway rats are large and have brown fur with black hairs scattered throughout, and their bellies are lighter in color than the rest of them. The Norway rat has a blunt nose and small ears. Their scaly tail lacks fur and is shorter than their body.

Roof Rats

Roof rats have a smaller, lighter build than the Norway rat, and their body has dark, smooth fur. Roof rats are also called black rats. They have a more pointed nose and a tail that is longer than their body.

Are rodents dangerous?

While rodents may see people as allies, the feeling isn't mutual. Rodents are dangerous pests and don't belong in our yards and homes.

• Problems rodents cause include:
• Spreading bacteria, human pathogens, and parasites
• Contaminating food and surfaces
• Leaving trails of feces and urine wherever they travel
• Causing structural damage and damage to personal items like clothing, boxes, and upholstered furniture
• Using their front incisors to chew through wires, pipes, and cables
• Triggering short circuits and fires
• Creating a musty, unpleasant odor

Why do I have a rodent problem?

A rodent's small size and ability to hide make it difficult to stop them from moving onto our properties. Rodents like to live near people because we provide them with their basic needs — food (kitchens, trash cans, pet food, gardens), water (leaky pipes, pooling water, clogged drains), and shelter (landscaping, our homes, sheds, and garages).

After finding their way into our yards, it isn't long until most rodents will want to explore the inside of our homes and will enter to escape harsh weather, look for food, or find a safe nesting spot.

Rodents usually move inside through cracks in the foundation, gaps under doors, and openings along the roofline and exterior walls.

Where will I find rodents?

Gophers are outdoor pests that feed on weeds, grass, and garden plants. Lawns with irrigation systems attract gopher activity. These rodents do not move into our homes to feed or nest.

Mice live in our yards in areas that provide places to shelter like woodpiles, fallen trees, gardens, tall grass, and under decks, sheds, or porches. They also love to take up residence in garages. Inside they nest in wall voids, basements, attics, and closets. Spaces behind large appliances and cabinets are other favorite nesting spots.

Roof rats thrive in urban areas as they provide plenty of food and safe shelter. Roof rats are excellent climbers, and outside live in trees, thick vegetation that grows over fence lines, and roofs. Inside, they nest in attics, chimneys, roof eaves, and above cabinets.

Norway rats living outside create burrows under garbage piles and construction debris, in tall grass, and under concrete slabs. The Norway rat is a poor climber; they enter structures through foundations, basements, or crawl spaces, usually staying to nest in those same areas.

How do I get rid of rodents?

Rodents are a constant source of frustration for Nevada home and business owners. They can find their way into our structures any time of year. To combat rodents at Anderson Pest Control, we offer ethical pest control solutions to eliminate rodents and prevent them from returning. Our family-owned company protects Las Vegas properties from damaging and dangerous rodents.

Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we combine our proven pest control methods with our knowledge of the biology and habits of the pests we treat to provide our customers with the best long-term pest solutions possible.

Our customized solutions will eliminate rodents from your property through accurate identification, exclusion services, and effective treatment options! If you are ready to learn more about our rodent control solutions, reach out to Anderson Pest Control today!

How can I prevent rodents in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from rodents with the following prevention tips:

• Seal up cracks and crevices in your home's exterior walls and foundation.
• Place weatherstripping around doors and windows and door sweeps on exterior doors.
• Cut tree branches back away from your roofline.
• Cut back vegetation that sits next to the exterior walls of your structure.
• Never place woodpiles or construction debris next to your home's exterior.
• Place tight-fitting lids on all trash cans.
• Keep your outdoor eating and grill areas free of food debris.
• Regularly clean your kitchen, vacuum floors, wipe down counters, and wash dirty dishes.
• Store your food and pet food either in the fridge or in containers with airtight lids.