Rodents have been a part of society for as far back as history shows. Rats played a huge role in spreading the black plague. Mice have been found mummified in ancient desert tombs over in Egypt. If you look hard enough in any era, you are sure to find some mention of rodents as either pets or pests.

Funny how nothing has changed. Even in our modern-day and age, rodents can be wonderful pets just as quickly as they can be troublesome pests. To help you keep unwanted rodents out of your Bay Area home, here are three things you ought to know.

Types Of Rodents In The Bay Area

There are thousands of species of rodents around the world, but only three here in The Bay Area are known for getting into homes and causing trouble, Norway rats, roof rats, and house mice. To help you identify these rodents inside your home, here is a brief description of each.

Norway Rats

Size: 7 -9 1/2 inches long not including their tail, 13-17 inches with their tail
Fur Color: Brown with speckled black hairs; greyish-white bellies
Shape: Long, wide-body, long hairless tail, blunt nose

Roof Rats

Size: 6-8 inches long, not including their tail, 16 inches with their tail.
Fur Color: Brown and black mixed; white, black, or grey bellies
Shape: Long thin body, scaly tail, and large eyes and ears

House Mice

Size: 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches long without their tail, 5 - 7 inches with their tail
Fur Color: Tan, black, grey, brown, or white; white or grey bellies
Shape: Short round body, black or pink eyes, long nearly hairless tail, and small rounded ears.

Problems Mice Cause

Despite different rodents diversity with their appearance, the problems they cause tend always to be the same. All rodents have extremely sharp and durable front incisor teeth. These teeth allow them to chew through practically anything, including plastic, wood, and even lead.

When inside the walls of homes, this chewing sometimes leads to some serious problems. You have probably seen holes chewed by rodents through walls, but did you know they can chew through electrical wires and utility pipes? In some cases, this behavior has led to severe water damage or even electrical fires.

On top of being destructive, rodents are also dangerous. Because of their filthy lifestyles and diet choices, rodents carry a large number of different and dangerous bacteria, pathogens, and parasitic worms. These disease vectors are spread around homes by the rodent's urine, fecal matter, and general bodily filth. Needless to say, if you find a box of food with a hole chewed through it, do not eat what is inside.

Prevention Tips For Rodents

Is your home currently rodent-free? If so, we have a few helpful prevention tips for you to try to deter and keep furry invaders from getting inside.

Here is what our experts recommend:

Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to fill in and seal up gaps and cracks in your home's exterior that are larger or wider than the face of a nickel.
Repair or replace any damaged window and door screens around your home.
Make sure all of your exterior doors have door sweeps.
For roof rats, make sure to seal your attic properly and that your chimney has a rodent-proof cap.
Install tough metal screens over exterior vents big enough for rodents to squeeze through.
Make sure your gutters are in good working order and that your home is free of leaks.
Keep your yard clean of clutter and your landscaping well maintained.
Clean your home regularly, and do your best to keep clutter to a minimum.
Pick up your pet's food and water bowls after they finish eating.
Store leftover food inside airtight containers after every meal.

For any extra help with rodent prevention, or to have a current rodent infestation dealt with quickly, get the professionals here at Bay Pest involved. We will schedule a rodent exclusion service visit for your home to have one of our highly trained friendly technicians start you on your journey to a rodent-free home.

Reach out to us today for more information.