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O’Hara’s Expert Service

Need same-day service? Not a problem! Our technicians are always equipped with every tool necessary to stop an infestation in its track. O’Hara rodent control in West Palm Beach service guarantees that issues will be resolved swiftly and efficiently manner. Our professionally trained technicians are thorough and will keep rodents away from the inside and outside of your home.

What Are the Dangers of Rodents?

It’s important to understand the extensive damage that a rodent can cause to your home. Common problems faced by homeowners include damaged insulation, holes in drywall, and chewed wiring, as well as unpleasant odors. Rodents are associated with many disease-carrying organisms like fleas and ticks. If you’re facing an infestation, you should call professional rodent control in West Palm Beach right away.

What are Rodents’ Feeding Habits?

When experiencing rodent issues, it is imperative to understand the extensive damage that a rodent is capable of causing to your home. Common problems faced by home owners include damaged insulation, holes in drywall, wires that have been chewed as well as unpleasant odors that ultimately lead one to desperately search for a quick and affordable solution. Rodents are associated with many disease carrying organisms. The Oriental Rat Flea is the chief carrier of the Bubonic Plague and Murine Typhus.

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Rodents are opportunistic scavengers that feed on just about any organic matter they come across. In urban areas, rats and mice tend to feed on human food scraps while in more rural areas, it’s common for them to feed on fruit or exposed pet food.

How Often Do Rodents Breed?

Rodents breed with alarming frequency. Mice can have five to ten litters a year containing anywhere from three to fourteen young. Rats on the other hand can have three to six litters a year with five to ten pups in each. That is to say that if a rodent population is left unchecked, it can grow exponentially.

What Type of Rodent Do I Have?

The most common rats in America are the Norway rat and the roof rat, while the most encountered mice species is the common house mouse and the deer mouse.

Norway Rat

Norway rats can range in color from brown to gray and have a characteristic white area on their stomach. These rats are borrowers and can frequently be found beneath lawns near homes and business. Norway rats can grow to 16 inches in length and tend to be more aggressive than other rat species.

Roof Rat

Also known as black rats, this species are prolific climbers, capable of scaling just about any surface which makes them frequent visitors of roofs and attics. They grow to the same length as Norway rats but the key difference between the two is that Roof rats have tails that are shorter than their bodies.

Deer Mouse

Deer mice are small, growing to about four to nine inches in length. They have long bi-colored tails, and their fur can range from a deep red to a pale gray in color. Deer mice are nocturnal scavengers that hide during cold weather and are commonly found in structures adjacent to wooden areas.

House Mouse

House mice are active all year. They can grow five to eight inches in length and tend to be light gray in color. Although House mice can climb, they are most often found in burrows at ground level.

FAQ

What’s the Difference Between Rats and Mice?

Rats and mice are both nocturnal scavengers, meaning that if you see them in their preferred environment, they might be hard to tell apart. The key difference between rats and mice is their size; mice tend to be two to four inches in length while rats are much larger, at seven to nine inches. Rats also tend to have shorter ears than mice and much larger feet.

Where do Rodents Live?

You can find rodents anywhere where there are readily available sources of food and water. Here in Florida, rodent control in West Palm Beach is most common in homes near canals, lakes, or swamps. Inside the home, they tend to gather in small, dark places like attics in between clutter in garages.

Why Does My Home Have Rodents?

Rodents are highly capable foragers, their flexible bone structure and ability to swim means they can find their way into your home through small crevices and even swim up from the toilet! If you find rodents in your home, chances are they made their way from the outside through small openings in doors, windows, or the foundation of your house.

How Can I Prevent Rodents?

Rodent prevention works much the same way as it does for just about any pest – by eliminating their food sources and sealing their entryways into your home. Avoid leaving exposed food in or around your house including pet food. A common preventative method of rodent control in West Palm Beach is a perimeter assessment to find and seal any openings that might lead inside.

Is Rodent Control in West Palm Beach Safe Around Pets?

Pet owners are often concerned with poisons and traps harming their animals. Fortunately, there are several pet-friendly rodent control methods that are highly effective at eliminating or keep rodents out. Some of the most popular include:

  • Peppermint Oil: Although not recommended if you have cats, rats and mice are repelled by the strong scent of peppermint oil.
  • Your Pet: Turns out that a lot of pets are particularly effective rodent prevention methods. Cats especially don’t even need to hunt rodents; their scent alone is often enough to keep rats and mice away.
  • Ultrasonic Repellents: These devices emit noise and vibrations that mice hate but people can’t hear.

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