Are Mice Different Than Rats?
Although both are prevalent pests in Dallas and surrounding areas, they don’t even belong to the same genus, let alone species. Mice and Rats get a bad rep from the general public; as they should. Rodents can cause devastating damage to homes, businesses, and other establishments if they have the chance to make their way inside. Distinguishing the two can help you get one step closer to eliminating the problem.
- A mouse is typically 5 to 7 inches long and weighs around half an ounce.
- A rat is larger, up to 18 inches in length including the tail, and can weigh up to one pound.
Young rats look even more similar to mice but they have much larger heads and feet than the average house mouse.
The Problems With Mice
More common than rat infestations, mice cause problems when contaminating food sources, chewing on electrical wires, and creating nests and further mess in inconvenient places. Unlike rats, if their food source is moist enough, they don’t necessarily need a source of water to survive which makes the situation more difficult. House Mice (Mus musculus) carry Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, or LCM, which is not usually fatal but causes the person infected to become very sick. Salmonellosis can also be transferred by mice. Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are known to carry Hantavirus. Hantavirus is a life-threatening disease that can affect the lungs. If it does happen to reach the lungs, the fatality rate is more than 50%.
Rat Problems
Rats cause problems the same as mice. Like mice, rats can also carry Hantavirus and Salmonellosis, however, can also transmit Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Rat Bite Fever, and even the plague. Although much larger than mice, they can stay hidden for a very long time. Intelligent creatures, they hoard their food in locations they deem safe. Because of their intelligence, mouse removal techniques might not work.
Mice & Rat Control & Removal
Getting rid of rats and mice is key for a healthy home. Store-bought traps can be useful, but homeowners may have varying degrees of success. To safely and humanely rid the home of mice and rats, contact the professionals at Trutech of Dallas.
