Rodents make the worst housemates.

Not only do they refuse to pay rent or chip in with the chores, but they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property. If you don’t catch them and get rid of them soon enough, you may have to spend a lot of money cleaning up after them.

They can also pose a serious risk to your health. Mice and rats can carry several diseases that can land you in the emergency room.

The problem is you might not notice there are rodents in your house if you aren’t looking for them. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn what type of rodent is invading your space and what to do about them, so let’s get started!

The Most Common Arizona Rodents

Your Arizona home is an attractive shelter for many different types of rats and mice. It gives them easy access to food, water, and a warm, dry place to build a nest. Because of this, you could end up sharing your home with any of the following rodents.

House Mouse

This type of mouse depends on humans to live, which makes them one of the most common household rodents. These mice like to hide in dark, out of the way areas, so they’ll build their nests in places like cabinets, storage boxes, closets, under furniture, etc. They’re grey in color, but they have a lighter white underbelly.

Deer Mouse 

Since deer mice carry hantavirus, they’re much more dangerous than a house mouse. By breathing in dust particles that have come in contact with the mice’s droppings, you can end up in the hospital.

These mice typically build their nests in hollow trees, bushes, woodpiles, etc. Just because they don’t live inside your home, though, doesn’t mean they’ll stay outside. Deer mice often enter homes in search of food, and they may move their nest inside so they’re close to it.

You can tell a deer mouse apart from a house mouse because of its brown, deer-like coloring.

Pack Rat

Pack rats build large dens with multiple different chambers for food, sleeping, debris, and more. If they get into your home, they’ll burrow a nest inside your walls or up in your attic.

You can tell these rats apart from other rat species because their tails, like the rest of their bodies, are covered also in fur.

Roof Rat 

These rats are long and dark in color, and they’re also known as black rats. They also have the traditional hairless tail you expect to find on a rat.

You can find these rats nesting in the upper levels of your home, such as the attic or inside the ceiling. Since they climb in tree branches and on power lines, they may enter your house without even touching the ground.

Figuring out What Type of Rodent You Have in Your House

Both rats and mice leave a lot of the same telltale signs of their presence in your house. You can tell there’s a rodent in your home if you notice things like:

  • Droppings
  • Urine puddles
  • Chew holes or gnaw marks (especially on food packaging)
  • Foul smells
  • Scampering sounds
  • Rodent runways (oil marks along the walls where they rub up against it)
  • Nests

However, rodents are most active at night. Because of this, you might not actually see them running around your house. So how do you know if you have a mouse or rat problem?

We’ve put together a few quick tips.

How to Tell a Mouse and Rat Apart

First things first, mice are much smaller than rats. Most mice are between 2.5 to 4 inches long while rats can get to be 10 inches. Mice also have larger ears (especially when compared to the rest of their body).

But again, you might not get a good look at them. Instead, take a look at what they leave behind.

Mice droppings are 1/4 of an inch long (and they can be even shorter than this). The ends are pointed, and the droppings have a slight curve, kind of like a banana shape.

Rat droppings, on the other hand, are 3/4 of an inch long. The ends are blunt, and there’s no curve.

You can also examine the type of food the rodent’s been stealing. If there are bite marks in things like meat, you’ve got a rat on your hands. Mice prefer grains and seeds.

Keep in mind, rats will eat anything. Just because your cereal has started to go missing doesn’t mean a mouse is the one doing it. Rats are happy to dine on grains and seeds as well.

What to Do If You Spot a Rodent in Your Home

If you notice any of these signs or see a rodent in your home, you should get in touch with a Tuscon pest control company right away. Living with mice or rats can be dangerous, so you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Not sure who to call?

Our team at Gecko Pest Management Inc. will take a look at your home and recommend an extermination solution that’s tailored to your personal needs. We won’t just get rid of those pesky rodents. We’ll keep them from coming back again.

Don’t hesitate to get a free quote from us today by sending us a message, or dial (520) 579-1701 to talk ask us any questions. We can’t wait to get those unwanted guests out of your home once and for all.