Mice & Rats What are mice and rats? Mice and rats are rodents.  Rodents are mammals characterized by having two incisors, which continuously grow and must be kept short by gnawing.  The house mouse is a small rodent that has a somewhat pointed nose; small, black, slightly protruding eyes and fairly large ears for its size. They are generally grayish brown with a gray or buff colored belly.  Rats are generally larger than mice and can grow up to 18 inches long, including the tail whereas mice are around 7 ½ inches long, including the tail.  Rodents, like mice and rats, are a common pest problem for Florida homeowners and businesses, especially during the fall and winter months. Why do I have them? Both mice and rats will enter your home in search of food, shelter, warmth and water.  They are considered commensal rodents, meaning they tend to share space with humans and partially depend upon us to survive.  These rodents will gain entry to buildings through cracks and holes, but also through openings that have been made for utilities, but the size of hole required will differ by species. For example, an adult house mouse can fit through a hole no bigger than a dime. Are they dangerous? Yes, mice and rats are known to contaminate food and other products with their droppings and are known carriers of serious diseases, such as Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Salmonellosis and the potentially fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.  They can also carry ticks, fleas and parasites onto your property and are known to cause structural and electrical damage with their constant gnawing. How do I get rid of mice and rats? Due to their shy nature and ability to move fast mice, rats and other rodents are hard to eradicat Can I do it myself? Mice and rats are not pests many homeowners have much success in eliminating on their own.  Many do-it-yourself repellents, sprays and traps to rid your property of mice and rats simply do not work as the chemicals they use are not effective and mice and rats learn to avoid traps.  Also, if misused or mixed improperly, pesticides can be very dangerous to people, pets or plants. Is the treatment safe? The health and safety of our customers, their familie or employees is very important to us and that is why we use Integrated Pest Management products and treatments that are EPA registered for pest control use.  In addition, all of our Service Professionals™ are registered and licensed by the state or local jurisdictions where we provide service to ensure proper application.   How soon can you get here? we are committed to helping you as soon as possible. In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day. How can I prevent this in the future? Many pest problems can be difficult to prevent so most of our customers choose one of our 3 comprehensive, year round programs to ensure mice and rats stay out of their home or business