Rodents Control

by Pest Killer

Among many kinds of mouses and rats, deer mouse also known as house mouse is the common one in UAE. They are known to invade homes for food and shelter, leaving behind disease-causing pathogens.

They have the tendency to grow at an astonishing speed if a proper rat control service is not executed on time. PestKiller is certainly the right option to eradicate them and put a full stop on their reproduction activities.

A lot of people cannot tell the difference between rats and mice out of fear when encountered. It’s important to note that both are equally dangerous for health. They may be carrying several diseases, such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic, and tularemia. Fortunately, Pestkiller is equipped with a safe and organized rodent control service that not only keeps homes and offices clean but is also very cost-effective. Our certified professionals get rid of them by identifying rats’ feeding behavior, breeding pattern, and lifespan.

The practical way to get rid of a rodent infestation is to prevent it from occurring again. Rodents want a place to store, water, and food to continue living. We seal all food sources, such as dustbins, to avoid further invasion. You also need to close all the doors, and PestKiller experts even fill the holes they can probably get inside through. It might not be as simple as setting up a trap. The best choice for efficient and long-lasting treatment is to leave it to professionals in the field.

Rodents types:

Scientific Name: Mus musculus

Mice

A mouse is a small mammal with short fur, a pointed face, small rounded ears, and a long tail. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse. It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are locally common. They are known to invade homes for food and shelter. Mice are typically distinguished from rats by their size. Mice are nocturnal, meaning they like to sleep during the day.

Types and basic attributes

The most common types of mice are the

– Deer Mouse
– House Mouse
– Field Mouse
– Wood Mouse
– Dormouse
– Spiny Mouse
– Zebra Mouse

Among these, Deer Mouse and House Mouse is the common one in UAE.

How they affect our health and well-being

– Carry diseases such as leptospirosis and typhus fever.
– Contaminate food with their hair, droppings and urine, resulting in food poisoning and spoilage.
– Generate unpleasant odors.
Carry fleas or ticks which can harm pets or humans.
– Damage materials such as food containers, wood, cloths, particle board, insulation and wiring through gnawing.

When homes are infested with mice, humans will often find chewed up wires, books, papers and insulation around their home. Mice aren’t eating these items, they are chewing them into pieces that they can use to make their nests. This is because mice nests are made from whatever the female mouse can find.

Feeding Behavior

Mice are omnivorous (they eat both plants, fruits, seeds, grains and meat) and the common house mice will eat just about anything it can find. In fact, if food is scarce, mice will even eat each other. Mice have voracious appetites. They eat around 15 to 20 times per day, so they build their homes nearby places that have readily accessible food sources.

Breeding pattern, Life-cycle and Lifespan

A female mouse give birth in about 19–21 days, and they give birth to a litter of 3–14 young (average six to eight). One female can have 5 to 10 litters per year, so the mouse population can increase very quickly. Breeding occurs throughout the year.

The pups are born blind and without fur or ears. The ears are fully developed by the fourth day, fur begins to appear at about six days and the eyes open around 13 days after birth; the pups are weaned at around 21 days. Females reach sexual maturity at about six weeks of age and males at about eight weeks, but both can copulate as early as five weeks. If the infants live in high temperature area from birth, they will be less-haired.

The lifespan of a mice can vary depending on the species. A house mouse may live 9 to 12 months where as a deer mouse may live 2 – 15 Months. The main cause of death is cancer and the kidney failure.

Scientific Name: Rattus

Rats

A rat is a mammal with a pointed head, large eyes, and prominent, thinly furred ears. They have moderately long legs and long, sharp claws. The bald soles of their narrow hind feet possess fleshy pads of variable size, depending on species. Many people are confused about rats and mice. Rats have long legs with long, sharp claws. A mouse usually has a longer tail compared to its body, whereas a rat has a short tail compared to its body. Rats have a thicker body and a blunt nose. A mouse has a lighter shade on its belly, whereas a rat is plain in color.

Types and basic attributes

There are different varieties of rats available worldwide, still the most common types of rats, they are considered as a common pest in private home and business

– Brown Rat (Most common).
– Black Rat.

How they affect our health and well-being

A rat’s impact is almost similar to the mouse. They can transmit diseases when they bite or scratch humans or when they run across the floor or some area where humans walk barefoot. They may leave their droppings and urine around the home may cause the same. They can carry many diseases including:

– Hantavirus.
– Leptospirosis.
– Lymphocytic. choriomeningitis (LCMV).
– Tularemia.
– SalmonellaWhen home surroundings are infested with rats, apart from diseases, they can damage properties like furniture, crops, and food supplies.

Feeding Behavior

Breeding pattern, Life-cycle and Lifespan

Scientific Name: Sciuridae

Squirrels

A squirrel is a small animal (mammal) with a bushy tail. Squirrels climb on trees and eat nuts, fruits, and seeds. They live in wooded areas and prefer to live in trees. There are more than 200 species of squirrels found all over the world.

Types and basic attributes

The common types of squirrels are the

– Tree Squirrel
– Ground Squirrel
– Chipmunks (Common in UAE)
– Marmots
– Flying Squirrels
– Prairie dogs

The squirrel was spotted for the first time on UAE soil in 2009 in Ras Al Khaimah and since then their population has increased and now its there everywhere across UAE.

How they affect our health and well-being

Squirrels are the cutest rodents. However, they destroy landscaping, eat vegetation. They nest at home and for that, they may chew openings through unscreened chimneys and can cut wires. They may cause to spread parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites, squirrels living in proximity to homes frequently pass these tiny pests on to both humans and pets. Some of the diseases humans can get from the parasites include Lyme disease, Encephalitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Feeding Behavior

Squirrels are omnivorous. They usually eat fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, fungi, small insects, caterpillars, termites and some of them eat small animals and even young snakes.

Breeding pattern, Life-cycle and Lifespan

Squirrels mate once or twice in a year. The female squirrel gives birth to pups in 3 -6 weeks and the number of offspring can vary depending on the species. The pups are born hairless, toothless and blind. They open their eyes in 5 weeks. Only the mother looks after the baby squirrels. A baby squirrel will mature in 1 year.

Squirrels are mammals. It takes about 40- 45 days for the gestation period and once born, 28 – 35 days to open their eyes. When they reach 56 – 70 days, they started to go out alone.

The lifespan of a squirrel can vary depending on the species. A squirrel lives an average of 12 – 20 Years. They usually die of old age, cancer, kidney or liver diseases and predators like rattlesnakes, weasels, black snakes, skunks, foxes, hawks, and owls. Many juvenile squirrels die in the first year of life.