Comprehensive Strategies To Prevent Rodent Infestations In Roanoke Homes

Rodents are some of the most common pests for home and business owners alike. They thrive in manmade environments where food and shelter are plentiful and can survive in a wide variety of environments from cities to farmland to forest. Rodents may seem harmless, but they pose a serious risk to your health and safety.

If you’re wondering about rodent prevention in Roanoke, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s learn about the rodents that reside in Roanoke and what you can do to protect your property from these pests.

Types Of Rodents In Roanoke

Rodents are a large and diverse group of mammals but only a few are common household pests in Roanoke. Here are the main culprits.

House mouse – The house mouse can be identified by its grayish-brown fur, pointed snout, and small size (about three inches long plus tail). They are the most common household rodent throughout the United States. Female house mice have been known to give birth to more than 30 young over the course of a year, making population control a challenge.

Norway rats – Norway rats go by many names but you know them as the most common rodent in densely populated urban areas. Sometimes called sewer rats, these rodents can grow up to nine inches or longer and have bristly brownish fur with a long scaly tail.

Roof rats – As their name implies, roof rats prefer to live in elevated areas like roofs and awnings. Compared to Norway rats, a roof rat has a much longer tail relative to its body size and has a darker, blackish coloration.

If you do have a rodent infestation, it’s likely that it’s mice or rats, but not both. Mice prefer dry grains and seeds and rats tend to favor human food waste, but when sharing territory, rats usually take over. Larger and more aggressive, rats will edge out mice for food and shelter, leaving the smaller, more timid mice unable to compete.

How Rodents Get Indoors

Most rats and mice can squeeze through a hole no bigger than a quarter, and some can squeeze through spaces even smaller than that. If you’ve got cracks or holes around the foundation of your property, small rodents could be getting in.

Rodents like manmade environments because of the abundance of food and shelter our buildings provide. Warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer, homes, and businesses are an ideal refuge from the elements.

When rats and mice get into your property, they can cause serious damage. They will chew up virtually anything they can get their teeth on including electrical wires, which can cause a fire.

Not to mention, rodent droppings are known to carry harmful diseases like salmonellosis and hantavirus. And rodents often carry parasites that spread Lyme disease or even bubonic plague. Suffice it to say, you don’t want rodents inside your property.

Preventing Rodents From Getting Indoors

To keep rodents out, you can follow a few simple pointers:

Seal all points of entry. Inspect the exterior of your property for any cracks or holes and fill with steel wool. Mice can chew through wood, plastic, and even brick, but they won’t chew through metal.

Dispose of trash in sturdy receptacles. Make sure your trash bins have a tight-fitting lid that remains closed. Even better, since rodents can chew through plastic, try to get metal trash bins for your garbage. Try to keep trash away from the property, if possible.

Clean everything. Okay, maybe not everything, but certainly floors, carpets, and countertops where food scraps may be. If there are dishes in the sink, make sure all food residue is washed off.

Store food in durable containers. Cereal, crackers, and cookies are all snacking options for rodents. Store any pantry items in glass or metal containers to protect against rodents.



If you’re experiencing rodent problems in Roanoke, contact the professionals at Star City Pest Control. We will work with you to eliminate your rodent problem and prevent rodents from returning to your property. For assistance with rodents or any other pest problems, get in touch with us today.