Worried about having a rodent problem in your home? As an Ohio resident, you could end up needing rodent pest control for house mice or other species. Ohio is home to more than 20 rodent species. Some of these prefer to live outdoors and may never be a problem for you. But others prefer living close to people for easy access to food and shelter.
You don’t have to wait for a rodent infestation before taking measures to stop these critters. Rodent control for businesses and homes gives you the upper hand, allowing you to prevent these pests from becoming a problem. We’ll take an in-depth look at rodents in Ohio — and why rodent control is so important for your property!
Common Rodents in Ohio
You might not realize just how many different rodent species live in our state. While you may not see all of them, some are much more common. You have a higher chance of encountering any of the following species in your home or business.
House Mice
These brown or gray mice are on the small side, growing up to 4 inches long as adults. They’ve got a pointed muzzle, large ears, and a tail that’s usually as long as their body. House mice are one of those rodent species that prefer living indoors. They tend to come out at night searching for food and make nests in hidden areas, like wall voids.
Norway Rats
These big brown rats have a white or gray underside and long, hairless tails. They’re much bigger than house mice, growing up to 9 1/2 inches long as adults. Norway rats have a rounded body shape and blunt muzzle. Norway rats typically build nests at ground level when they invade homes or buildings. They’re also nocturnal, emerging around dusk to look for food.
Deer Mice
Deer mice are small, round rodents measuring 5 to 8 inches long, with brown fur, white feet, and a white underbelly. While they typically live outdoors in sheltered spots like hollow logs or debris piles, they may occasionally enter homes, favoring quiet, undisturbed areas such as attics. Though their indoor presence is rare, it’s important to act quickly if you suspect an infestation, as deer mice are known carriers of serious diseases, including the potentially fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
Signs of a Rodent Infestation
How do you know if you’ve got rats or mice lurking around your home? Seeing one with your own eyes is a good indicator! But these pests also leave plenty of other signs that they’re around. Check your home or building for any of the following rodent infestation signs:
- Droppings: Rats tend to leave droppings that have rounded or blunted ends and a dark brown or black color. Mouse feces are smaller and have pointed ends and a smooth appearance. Older rodent droppings may be lighter in color.
- Gnaw marks: Rats and mice often gnaw on objects to access food and keep their front teeth from growing too long. Look around for these telltale marks, including on food packaging and other household surfaces.
- Nesting materials: Rats and mice can make a mess while bringing materials to nesting sites to build their nests. You might find bits and pieces of shredded paper, insulation, and other materials near nesting sites.
- Sounds: Do you hear unusual sounds, especially at night? You might hear rodents scratching inside walls or scurrying around while searching for food.
- Grease marks on walls: Rodents typically have oily fur. As they move around home or building interiors, they leave greasy markings on walls and other surfaces. Check around for these kinds of marks in your home or business.
- Unusual pet behavior: Have your dogs or cats been acting strange? They might stare at the walls or ceiling or even try to dig or scratch at certain areas. Dogs might bark, too. These behaviors may mean that your pets have detected rodent intruders in your home!
Dangers and Health Risks of Rodents
Having mice or rats in your home or business can cause rodent issues. These pests can put your health at risk or cause property damage that’s expensive to fix. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main risks and hazards you face when rodents invade your space.
Diseases Spread by Rodents
A rodent infestation can endanger your health due to the diseases these pests spread. Some rodents transmit diseases when they scratch or via saliva when they bite. Others leave germs behind in their droppings or urine, putting you at risk of exposure when you clean these messes up. A few mouse-borne and rat-borne diseases include:
- Hantavirus: Deer mice and other rodents can spread this disease. Hantavirus can cause serious illness that becomes life-threatening, with symptoms that include fatigue, dizziness, and breathing problems.
- Salmonella: Mice and rats can carry and spread salmonella bacteria when they contaminate food that you end up eating. Symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and headache.
- Leptospirosis: Rats are the main culprit in spreading this potentially deadly disease to humans and pets. Exposure to leptospirosis bacteria in their urine can lead to infection, with symptoms including fever, chills, body aches, vomiting, and more. Untreated cases may result in serious liver or kidney damage.
Property Damage
Rodents aren’t just a threat to your health — they can also cost you in terms of home repairs! Mice and rats can cause all kinds of property damage when they build nests or chew on objects and surfaces. A few common types of damage include:
- Chewed wires: This is a serious problem as it can lead to electrical fires that put your safety and your entire home at risk of being destroyed. Rodents sometimes chew wiring inside walls or in attics and use it as nesting material.
- Insulation loss: Fiberglass insulation is another source of nesting material that rodents like to use. Losing insulation thanks to a rodent infestation means your home can end up with higher energy bills and an uncomfortably cool or warm interior.
- Structural damage: Rodents’ gnawing behaviors can put your home at risk of structural damage. Mice and rats gnaw on wood, weakening beams and other structures. They might even gnaw on pipes, resulting in leaks and other water damage.
Contamination of Food and Surfaces
We’ve already mentioned salmonella food poisoning that rodents can cause. That’s just one problem that can happen if they contaminate food and surfaces around your home. Tearing open food packaging means that other pests, like bugs, also have easy access to your food supplies. Both human food and pet food are at risk of being contaminated when you have rats or mice around. They can also leave germs on other household surfaces, like countertops and tables.
Risks to Pets and Children
Having a rodent problem can put your kids and furry friends in harm’s way. They might be bitten or scratched if they encounter a rat or mouse in your home, potentially putting them at risk of disease. Or they might be exposed to diseases if they touch or play in areas where rodent urine or droppings are present.
What Attracts Rodents to Homes and Businesses?
Rats and mice don’t just invade homes and buildings out of the blue. Certain things make these spaces more inviting to them. When you know what entices rodents to infest dwellings or businesses, you can take steps to keep them out. These pests tend to infest places that provide them with the following resources.
Access to Food Sources
Why spend time looking for food outdoors with predators around when you can easily get what you need in a safe place? Having quick and easy access to food sources is one of the biggest things that attracts rodents to residential and commercial buildings. These places give them access to:
- Crumbs and other food debris on counters and other surfaces
- Unsealed food, like pet food in bowls on the floor
- Garbage in indoor wastebaskets and outdoor trash cans
Availability of Water
These pests need water to survive just as much as we do. Building interiors may provide them with convenient access to sources of water. Leaky pipes that drip water give rats and mice a source of water in areas where they can stay hidden. Pet water bowls also provide an easy way for rodents to drink as much as they want.
Shelter
Living outdoors means having to evade predators and deal with the elements. Mice and rats are drawn to areas that provide them with safety and shelter so they can build their nests and raise young in peace. Some sources of shelter that these pests take advantage of include the following:
- Clutter around the home or in storage areas
- Openings or voids in walls
- Woodpiles in the yard
The Dangers of DIY Rodent Control
So, you’ve got a rodent infestation and want to handle it as quickly as possible. You may be tempted to use DIY rodent control to do this — but that can lead to other problems. You might not catch these pesky critters. Or you might end up putting your kids and pets at risk of becoming ill, depending on what you use.
Ineffectiveness of Common Traps and Repellents
Planning on using glue traps or store-bought repellents for rodent removal? Traps are a pretty standard DIY rodent control method — but they often fail. Rats are smart and can learn to avoid setting off these traps. Mice might not like the kind of bait you use to lure them, making traps completely ineffective.
Are you using repellents, like mothballs or ammonia, to keep rodents away? Some of these DIY repellents might not bother rats and mice. Others can be harmful to you and your loved ones. In some cases, natural repellents, like peppermint oil, can wear out.
Risks of Using Poison Improperly
You have to be extremely careful when handling toxic substances that you’re using to repel rodents. Using these incorrectly can cause accidental exposure to poison, putting you at risk of becoming dangerously ill. Improper usage might also make these poisons ineffective for rodent control.
Potential Harm to Pets and Children
If you have kids and/or pets in your home, handling rodent infestations on your own is even more risky. Traps and repellents in areas that pets and children have access to are hazardous. They might ingest poison or get hurt while handling traps that snap shut. Pets might also eat rodents found in traps, putting them at risk of diseases.
Why Professional Pest Control Is Safe and More Effective
When you need help controlling rodent populations, it’s always best to rely on the pros! Pest control experts use safe and effective methods of rodent control to ensure that these critters are caught and removed. Professional methods also help reduce the risk of having ongoing or frequent infestations.
How Professional Rodent Control Works
Inspection Process
Pest control experts start with a thorough inspection of your property. This involves looking for signs of rodent infestations, such as grease marks or droppings.
Identification of Entry Points
Preventing or handling a rat or mouse problem involves identifying access points. These are the areas where these rodents are getting into your home or building.
Safe and Humane Removal Techniques
Trained and experienced rodent control experts at ScherZinger use removal methods that are completely safe to reduce the risk of spreading diseases or exposing people and pets to poison. Our technicians also use humane rodent removal methods rather than messy traps.
Scaling and Exclusion Methods
Pest control professionals look for and address attractants that draw rodents to your property, such as easy access to food or water. Exclusion involves taking steps to prevent mice and rats from being able to get into your home or business, like sealing entry points.
Ongoing Monitoring and Prevention Tips
Professional pest control service includes regular monitoring of your property to check for rodent activity and help prevent infestations. We also provide expert tips on how you can reduce your risk of having rats and mice invade your home or building.
Prevention Tips for Homeowners and Businesses
How can you make sure that your home or business is safe from mice and rats? Here are a few ways you can protect your property from rodents and discourage them from becoming regular visitors — or residents!
Sealing Entry Points
Mice and rats are capable of squeezing through small gaps. Look for cracks and tiny openings they might use, especially around doors and windows. Seal these up to stop rodents from getting in. You should also check the foundation of your home or business to look for possible entry points they can use to get into basements or crawlspaces.
Proper Food Storage
Do you have food lying around that rats and mice can get into? Store all food in your home or business in airtight containers that they can’t gnaw their way into. This helps prevent food contamination — and gives them fewer potential food sources! Don’t forget about pet food. Store dog and cat food in containers rather than leaving them in bags.
Maintaining Cleanliness
Having a clean interior goes a long way toward discouraging rodents from invading your property. Prevent rodents with all of the following steps:
- Wipe down counters and tables to remove crumbs
- Sweep floors to get rid of food sources in these areas
- Clean up spills immediately
- Empty your indoor trash cans regularly
- Keep outdoor garbage cans tightly sealed
- Get rid of boxes and piles of clutter that rodents may nest in
Regular Inspections
Don’t wait until you already have a rodent issue in your home or business! Set up routine inspections throughout the year to check for any signs that these pests are lurking around. If you do have a mouse or rat problem, pest control professionals can handle it as soon as possible to stop it from getting worse.
Why Choose ScherZinger for Rodent Control in Ohio?
Our pest control team has over 90 years of experience handling rodent infestations in homes and businesses throughout Columbus, Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky. We offer local expertise and a thorough understanding of rodent problems in Ohio. Our experts are committed to only using solutions that are safe, humane, and effective.
Need help with rodent control or want to set up regular inspections? Contact ScherZinger today!
FAQs About Rodent Control
How many mice are in your home if you see one?
Seeing one mouse usually means you’ve got more. Note that mouse nests can hold dozens of mice!
Is it okay to live with mice in your home?
No, these pests can cause all kinds of problems, from spreading diseases and contaminating your food to causing fire hazards and ruining your insulation.
Will mice go away on their own?
They typically don’t once they’ve found a place that offers shelter, water, and food. That’s why it’s important to have pest control professionals handle infestations.
How quickly can a rodent infestation grow?
Rats and mice can reproduce fast. They also tend to have multiple litters per year, leading to populations in the hundreds or thousands!
Can rodents damage my property?
Yes, they can chew on wood and gnaw on wires, causing costly property damage. They can also remove insulation and other materials around your home.
What if I touched mouse droppings?
Wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and soap if you’ve been exposed to rodent droppings to prevent disease.
