Mice and Rat Control - Mercer County NJ
Are you seeing mice and rats in your home? Evidence of rodent activity such as droppings and damage from gnawing throughout your home could indicate an infestation. Mice and rats are incredibly common pests in New Jersey, and Mercer County is no exception. From Princeton to Ewing, Hamilton, Trenton, and East Windsor, rodents are active year-round in the area.
Cooper Pest Solutions is here to help! Although mice and rats are both rodents, they require very different tactics for successful removal and elimination.
Depending on your needs, Cooper Pest Solutions can get rid of the rodents in your house with a variety of professional programs.
One-Time Mouse Control Plan- If you find evidence of mouse activity or see actual mice in your home, this plan could be for you. The One-Time Mouse Control Plan is the perfect solution for homeowners that want control and coverage for 90 days. This plan is for active mouse infestations only. Schedule and pre-pay online for fast technician dispatch.
Rodent Exclusion Plan- The Rodent Exclusion Plan is a permanent solution to rodent activity in your home. This plan involves the usage of door sweeps, wire mesh installation, sealing, capping, metal flashing installation, and more, to physically seal rodent entry points. This plan can be customized for both mouse and rat control.
Year-Round Home Pest Plans- Cooper's Year-Round Home Pest Plans provide coverage against mouse activity, along with over 20 other common household pests, all 12 months of the year. These plans protect your whole home against the most persistent pests in Mercer County. Schedule and pre-pay online for fast technician dispatch.
Rat Control Plan- Rat control involves a multitude of strategies including baiting and exclusion. Multiple visits are required to monitor the rat activity and modify the program if needed. Rats are more resilient to control measures, so this program will be highly customized to the exact needs of your situation.
Want to learn more about rodents? Use the following identification steps to determine the type of rodent in your home.
House Mice
Coloring: The house mouse is typically black to light brown, with a white belly. They have very little fur and very long tails.
Size: They are about 2.56” - 3.74”. Their small stature makes it easy for them to go undetected as they move throughout your home.
Evidence: Mice leave a trail of droppings wherever they go. Mouse droppings in particular look like small, black, or brown grains of rice. Because mice tend to travel along walls and edges, you're most likely to find droppings by baseboards in your home. They can also be found near a food source such as bird seed in your garage or stored products in your basement.
Damage: Mice cause damage to food products in easily penetrated containers. This can include cereal kept in boxes, bird seed in plastic bags, and other dry goods throughout your kitchen, garage, and basement. You may see small gnaw marks or openings in food packaging when mice have entered. Mice also urinate on surfaces, leaving behind small, yellow, sticky spots. Oily marks on your walls and around openings could be what are called "rub marks". Mice secrete oils from their bodies and they scale walls and move about.
Norway Rats
Coloring: Norway rats have brown and black fur, with long tails.
Size: Norway rats are much larger than the common house mouse. They reach 7.5-9 inches in length.
Evidence: Norway rats will leave a hind foot track of about 3/4-1 inch whereas a mouse's track measures 3/8 of an inch or less. Rats will also drag their tails, leaving a mark between their foot tracks. Unscented baby powder or flour, lightly sprinkled can help you determine tracks and their runways as they cross suspected areas. Rat burrows can be found along foundations, or beneath rubbish and shrubbery. If the burrow is active it is usually clear of vegetation. Rat runways are smooth and well packed. Indoors, these runways are free of dust and dirt.
Pictured Above: Rat burrows found by one of Cooper's Service Managers
Damage: They gnaw holes about 2 inches or more in diameter with rough edges to create entry points around your home and into trash cans. Norway rats have teeth that constantly grow. That results in the need to constantly chew. Their incredibly strong teeth cause serious damage that a mouse could not.
Other wildlife can leave behind similar droppings and cause damage. If you're still unsure about the type of pest that is in your home, call us to set up a free inspection.
Now that you know what type of rodent is in your home, you can start the process of professional control solutions. Purchase online, fill out the contact form on this page, or give us a call at 609-799-1300 to get started.
