Rats or Mice?

Do you have Mice or Rats in your Memphis home? Lets take a look below for a bit of information to help us Identify the two. Keep in mind size and color may differ than the photos below.

Mouse

Small, its body rarely exceeding two inches long and one ounce in weight.

Color:

Usually gray in color, but some may appear darker.

Behavior:

There are a few types of Mice in Memphis, but all Mice are excellent climbers and are capable of gaining entry through holes around soffit vents and around cables entering the building, through holes in gable vent screens, and through turbine and box vents on roofs. Most garage doors on homes allow enough space for mice to fit underneath, as well.  It takes only a ¼ inch opening for mice to enter your home.  Plumbing openings as well as electrical wires can provide routes into and out of your home.

Rats

Larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10 to 12 inches. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound.

Color:

Can vary from gray to brown to black.

Behavior:

There are a few types of Rats in Memphis, but most Rats are excellent climbers and are capable of gaining entry through holes around soffit vents and around cables entering the building, through holes in gable vent screens, and through turbine and box vents on roofs. Many garage doors on homes allow enough space for rats to fit underneath, as well.  Rats can be destructive not only destroying and contaminating food sources but damage electrical wiring causing a fire hazard.  Did you know Rats also carry a wide variety of diseases including Rat bite fever, Meningitis, Murine typhus, Hantavirus and several other potentially deadly diseases?

Rats or Mice in your home are never a good thing. Please, give All-State Pest and Lawn a Call at (901) 757-9111 or visit us at www.allstatepest.com if you have questions or need service.