Rodent Rundown: Keeping These Dangerous Pests Away From Your Honolulu Property

Signs Of Rodent Activity: How To Detect A Problem Early

How bad can a little mouse be? A rodent problem can seem like a small issue, especially if you've only seen one little rodent in your home. But don't underestimate these small animals. It only takes one rodent to cause a lot of trouble, and, unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that, if you've seen one, there are many more hiding just out of view. House rodents do well indoors and can grow a large population. As they do this, they make little or no noise. Have you heard the saying, quiet as a mouse? There is a reason for that saying.

Join us today as we give you a quick rundown of common rodents in Honolulu. We'll tell you what you can expect from them when they invade your home, what you can do to keep them out, and what works best to remove them. For immediate questions, remember that we're here to provide advice on rodent control in Honolulu, as well as the management of many other pests. We're your local area pest experts.

The four rodent species in Honolulu we see most often homes are house mice, deer mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. The worst two are house mice and roof rats. They love living indoors. The other two aren't particularly crazy about living with you, but they will, under certain circumstances.

Norway rats are burrowing rodents that are more likely to live in a ground hole on your property. Deer mice do very well outdoors, and you are likely only to find these mice in your home if you live near a wooded area. Each of these rodents is unique in its own way, but all have one thing in common—they're quiet!

It isn't easy to notice rats or mice with your ears. While they can make noise you'll detect, there is a far greater chance that they'll only make noises your dog or cat will hear. That leads us to our first tip for detecting rodents in your home.

Watch Your Dog Or Cat: If you notice odd behavior, such as your dog scratching or whining or your cat sitting as though it is about to pounce on something underneath your kitchen cabinet, you may have a rodent problem. Your dog and cat can hear and smell far better than you can. They detect these animals early.

Check For Droppings: Rats and mice leave black fecal matter in many places. The droppings left by rodents are shiny, moist, and black. Look inside the cabinet under your kitchen sink, towards the back. Rodents enter this space by squeezing through gaps around pipes. Look in your drawers. And, if you're up for it, slide your oven out and take a look behind.

Check For Holes: Rats and mice make holes in many places. You may find chewed holes in building materials. Inspect baseboards, door frames, and gaps that are low to the floor. Inspect food packaging in your kitchen cabinets, pantry, or storage room.

Check For Grease Marks: Rodents can darken the rim When they pass through a gap or hole. They also leave a greasy residue as they run along baseboards. These grease marks are subtle at first. If you have a large infestation, you may find black marks.

Check Your Attic: If you have rodents in attic spaces, you may see them when you inspect. Don't worry; they're not likely to bite you. But, to be safe, move out of the area when you detect them, just in case. You may also see droppings on the floor and insulation or holes chewed in building materials or stored items, such as sofas. And you might smell urine. If you have dressers or other stored items that have drawers, slide them open and look for extremely soft materials. Mice commonly collect soft materials, such as the stuffing inside couch cushions, and use the materials to fill a wood cavity. Keep in mind that if it can't find a dresser drawer, a wall void is the next best location.

We hope you don't find rodents, but if you do, contact a licensed professional to look at your issue. It is best to have professionals control rodents because of how sneaky they are and the risks of having rats or mice in your home. Let's quickly look at these risks. 

Rodent Dangers: Health Risks And Property Damage

Rats are small animals but large enough to startle you if you see one scurry along a wall inside your house. Mice are a bit less startling, but not in the least bit better than having rats. While mice are little rodents, they can cause a big problem.

• Rats and mice reproduce quickly, so you aren't going to have a small problem for long. A male and a female rat can give rise to about 1,250 rats in one year. Mice reproduce even faster.
• Even if you have one tiny little mouse in your home, it can pose a serious risk to your life and property. Rodents commonly chew on wires and are known to start fires inside structures. Experts in the fire department claim that rodent activity sparks 20 to 25 percent of fires.
• Rodents pick up parasites outdoors and bring them inside. A tiny mouse can bring as many as a hundred seed ticks into a home when it enters. When those seed ticks mature, they fall off and look for a second host.
• Rodents spread germs that they pick up from unsanitary environments, such as dumpsters and sewers.
• The droppings and urine left by rodents can cause sickness.
• Rats and mice can damage your home and belongings by chewing on them or soiling them with their waste materials.

If you don't have any rodents in your house yet, it is important to keep it that way. Let's look at how you can keep rodents out of your home and reduce rodent activity near your exterior. 

Rodent-Proof Your Property: Key Steps To Keep Unwanted Guests Away

Rodent prevention is a mixture of three methodologies. First, you must remove the factors that promote rodent activity near your home. Next, you must seal any openings that a rodent may use to enter your home or that they might chew on to create a suitable entry point. Then, you must consider the routes rodents use.

Attractants: Several factors promote rodent activity. Rodents use clutter on the ground to navigate. Smells from trash bins can lure them in with the promise of a meal. A void under a structure can provide a hiding place. A puddle of water can provide a drink.

• Pick up yard clutter.
• Clean trash receptacles and keep trash covered at all times.
• Use fencing material to guard voids under stairs, decks, etc. 
• Clean your gutters to reduce the risk of puddles forming.

Rodent-Proofing: Rodents will take advantage of any small hole. They like squeezing themselves into tight spaces. A simple fix is to remove the hole that entices them. Here are a few suggestions.

• Repair seals around exterior doors.
• Patch damaged screens.
• Fill voids with expanding foam.
• Patch gaps with caulking material.
• Install missing covers on vents. 

Routes: A rat or mouse can climb and jump onto your roof and, through vulnerabilities, find ways to enter your house you don't even know you have. Use these techniques to prevent access to your roof.

• Use an upside-down cone (or a pie plate and duct tape) to prevent rodents from climbing pipes on the side of your home.
• Use the pie plate idea, or purchase a rodent guard to stop rodents from running across power lines to get to your roof.
• Cover your downspouts with a protective material that lets the water run out but prevents rodents from running up.

With a little diligence, you can deter rats and mice, reduce activity, and prevent entry. If we're too late and rodents are already in your home, it is time to contact a trained and experienced professional. Let's take a look at what a professional brings to the table.