Rats and mice, mice and rats. They seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, but the truth is, they are very different. They both are rodents and eat almost anything, but rats eat something mice don't, mice. In fact, mice are afraid of them, and their smell is enough to keep them away. 

The saying goes, "curiosity killed the cat," but it probably killed many more mice. If a new trap is set and no mouse is caught in a few days, it's more than likely in the wrong spot. Nature even has a way of making them more curious and putting them directly in harm's way. A parasite that mice can get infected with acts like a steroid for curiosity. In a lab setting, it caused them to climb to dangerous heights, go into the hands of the testers, and be non-reactive to an anesthetized rat. The parasite also attracts them to cat pee, leading to their untimely demise. Rats, on the other hand, are cautious by nature. They exhibit neophobic behavior, becoming distrustful and avoiding new obstacles. Perhaps the saying should be, build a better rat trap.

What they have in common is this, they are insidious pests, and in New York, we are plagued with the three most common of the vermin, the house mouse, and Norway and Roof Rats. The Norway made its way to North America around 1750, and oddly enough, it is not from Norway. The species originated in China and now lives on every continent except Antarctica.

They thrive on a diet of whatever they find, and an examination of one's stomach found traces of over four thousand items. Females are ready to reproduce just 18 hours after giving birth, and they can mate 500 times during their six-hour estrus. Mostly, they are ground dwellers digging tunnels and inhabiting basements, landfills, food storage facilities, and sewers. 

The Roof or Black rat prefers the penthouse over the basement and is often found on the floors above the Norway. They can live in trees but use them as a way to get into our structures through, you guessed it, the roof. They also have some distinct features from the brown, including a pointy nose, ears that can cover their eyes, and an overall sleeker appearance. They have in common the devastation they cause to food supplies, walls and insulation, electrical wiring, water pipes, and the diseases they spread. They can transmit rat-bite fever, salmonella, murine typhus, and many more. They can also host fleas, ticks, and mites, and tiny insects carry pathogens.

Though much smaller, the house mouse is no less a pest and a quick one. They can run at speeds up to eight miles per hour. Once they make your home theirs, they typically won't travel more than 50 feet from it. They can destroy food stores, clothing, furniture, and more. They carry similar diseases as rats, and mouse mammary tumor virus can lead to breast cancer in humans. 

It may seem hopeless when these creatures invade your home or business, but Patriot Wildlife is just a call away. Our experts have the most up-to-date training and the best technology the industry has to offer. Contact us today for your rodent issues.