Rats and Mice

Mice:

Florida has several species of mice.  Some, like the Florida Mouse are rare and protected native species that must be carefully removed.  Luckily the Florida Mouse is rarely an issue for the homeowner. 

House Mice:

House Mice are considered a commensal rodent which means that they have developed to live closely to Humans.  House mice typically enter the home in search of food, water, shelter, and nesting materials.  They are the most common rodent for the Florida homeowner to encounter.  Mice are small, shy, curious animals that typically don't stray far from their nest.  A female mouse can have a litter about every 30 days with an average of 6 pups per litter.  In the home setting without the presence of natural predators like the owls, and snakes that mice experience in the wild, the mouse population can grow rapidly. One pregnant mouse finding its way into your home and making a nest can result in a handful of mice in a matter of weeks! 

Rats:

Florida has two invasive species of rat that can affect the homeowner.  These are the the Roof Rat and the Norway Rat.  Common to both species of rat is that their front teeth continually grow.  The rats solution to this, is near constant gnawing to keep their teeth ground down.  This can lead to holes in the interior and exterior of the building, damage to electrical wiring, and holes in plumbing pipes and or HVAC ducts.  Rats also carry various diseases such as Rat Bite Fever, Typhus, Plague, and more.  Read below about the differences between the two species of rats.

Roof Rats:

Roof Rats are sometimes called Fruit Rats or Citrus Rats.  Roof Rats are considered commensal rodents as they have adapted to live with humans and are the most common Rat that the Florida Homeowner will encounter.  As their name implies Roof Rats like to live up high and excel at climbing.  They will often enter the home by climbing up or along wiring or jumping from nearby trees or bushes.   A female Roof Rat can have 5 to 6 litters a year, with each litter having an average of 6 pups per litter.  

Norway Rats:

Norway Rat are also called Street Rats or Sewer Rats.  Norway Rats are considered commensal rodents as they have adapted to live with humans.  Norway Rats are capable diggers often living in underground burrows or sewers.  They are also strong swimmers and are able to hold their breath for long periods of time.  Norway Rats have been known to swim up through sewer pipes and enter the home through the toilet or broken plumbing pipes.   A female Norway Rat can have 5 to 6 litters a year, with each litter having an average of 7 pups per litter.  

***  Check out our  "Services:" page to find out how we deal with these  animals. ***