Tag: Rodent

Rodents can infiltrate even the smallest chinks in a home's armor. A rat can squeeze through a hole as small as a quarter, safely drop 50 feet or use its 36-inch vertical jump to enter your home. Similarly agile, mice can chew their way through walls, causing costly damage. Rats, too, can gnaw through lead sheathing, cinder block, aluminum sheeting, glass and electrical wires-a common cause of fire. Rats must gnaw constantly to trim their sharp teeth, which is why they are always looking for something to chew.

To determine whether there are rats in your house, you can look for the telltale signs. Rats love to gnaw on wood, so you may discover gnaw marks on baseboards or door frames. They will also chew through food packaging - people and pet food alike. Droppings are a surefire sign that your house is inhabited by rodents; small and dark, they tend to show up in drawers and cabinets. If you have a keen ear, you may also hear them rustling in food sacks or scurrying back and forth behind walls.