Did you know that Texas is home toover a dozen different speciesof rats?
Knowing the type of rat that has taken up residence in your home can help you eliminate the infestation faster and prevent the rats from returning in the future.
If you're curious about the types of rats found in Texas and how to manage them, read on. Learn everything you need to know below.
Most Common Rat Species in Texas
Let's start with the types of rats you can find in Texas. Here are some of the state's most well-known mouse species, with tips on how to tell them apart:
domestic mouse
A house mouse spends most of its time outdoors, but will sneak inside if it needs food, water, or shelter from the weather. These mice are about 5 to 7 inches long with white, gray, black or brown fur and light colored fingers and belly.
White-footed Deer Rat
The white-footed deer mouse is tiny, only 3 to 4 inches long, has brown fur, and is also known in Texas as the wood mouse. This species tends to stay in attics, garages and basements.
oriental vole mouse
The eastern deer mouse is similar to its white-footed cousin. It is about 3 to 4 inches long, is gray or white with white feet, and is one of the most frequently seen mouse species in Texas.
field mouse
The Field Mouse is larger than some of the other mice on this list, coming in at 7-8 inches in length. It is also known as the meadow vole and has small eyes and ears with a round body.
This species nests in the ground and is known to cause severe damage in backyards and gardens.
golden mouse
The golden mouse is known for its soft golden brown or burnt orange fur.
This species is about 5 to 8 inches long and is extremely fussy, eating seeds and not much else. They are most commonly found in forests and swamps, where they can easily hide in the surrounding vegetation.
catco mouse
The cactus mouse has dark brown fur and resides in the dry desert and foothills of mountains. They are about 6 to 8 inches long and live on a variety of foods throughout the year, such as grass and flowers in spring and insects in winter.
cotton mouse
The cotton rat has brownish-gray fur and gets its name from the fact that it often uses cotton in its nests. This species lives in a variety of habitats, from forests and fields to swamps and rocky bluffs. They are about six inches long and eat mainly seeds and insects.
mouse brush
The brush mouse has a thin, hairless tail with a small tuft at the end that resembles a brush. He also prefers to live in wooded and wooded areas. Only 3-4 inches long, it is a small species that is nocturnal and builds its nests under logs, rocks and trees.
rat pinion
The pinyon rat is known for its tiny body and oversized ears.
It has brownish-gray fur and adapts to different climates, from the desert to the mountains. It also adjusts its diet based on its environment, eating leaves and cactus parts in the desert for water and seeds and insects in areas with more water.
Harvest Rat Fawn
The fawn crop mouse has light brown, slightly orange fur. It is about 5 to 7 inches long and has a distinctive bicolor tail. This species resides in low bushes and feeds on seeds, insects and invertebrates.
eastern harvest mouse
The eastern harvest mouse is known for its dark brown coat (with lighter coat on the belly and paws). It spends most of its time in grassy fields or meadows and is about 3 to 4 inches long. This species has a very short lifespan, rarely exceeding a year.
Western Harvest Rat
The western crop mouse has light brown fur and a distinctive white stripe down the back.
They are some of the smallest rats on this list, only 2 to 3 inches long and are most active at night. They are also strict herbivores.
Plains Harvest Rat
The plains harvest mouse is 2 to 5 inches long and has gray fur with a darker gray stripe down the back. It typically resides in open fields and prairies and breeds year-round without hibernating.
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
The northern grasshopper mouse mainly eats insects, smaller mouse species and even snakes. It has grayish-brown fur with a light-colored belly, is about 5 inches long on average, and has a much shorter tail than many other mice.
Risks of rat infestations
Even if you're not afraid of mice, you still don't want them roaming around your house. The following are some of the more significant risks associated with mouse infestations:
Direct Spread of Diseases
Rats can directly spread a wide range of diseases, including the following:
- Hantavirus and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- hemorrhagic fever
- tifo silvestre
- chicken pox
- Luxury Hemorrhagic Fever
- Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever
- salmonellosis
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
- Tularemia
- Lassa fever
Indirect Spread of Diseases
Rats can also indirectly spread various other diseases. If someone is bitten by a tick, mite, flea, or mosquito that has fed on an infected rodent, they could develop one of these illnesses:
- Anaplasmosis
- Angiostrongylus
- Lyme disease
- colorado tick fever
- flea-borne typhus
- Babesiose
- exfoliating typhus
- Tick-borne relapsing fever
- diminutive hymenolepis
- lyme disease
- cutaneous leishmaniasis
- Moniliformis moniliformis
- Prague
- lacrosse virus
- Virus in Powassan
- Tularemia
- Rickettsial varíola
Materials damage
Because they love to chew, dig, and build nests, rats can do all kinds of damage to your home and yard. For example, they might eat your plants or burn holes in your furniture, clothing, or walls.
Pet
Pets like dogs and cats often feel distressed when rodents sneak into their home. They may hear rats running through the walls or attic and will bark or scratch at the walls to try to alert you.
Pets can also get sick from diseases transmitted directly and indirectly by rodents.
What to do with mice in your home
If rats have entered your home, you may notice some of thesewarning signs:
- Excrements on the floor, in drawers, cupboards, pantries, etc.
- Teeth marks on drawers, cardboard boxes, baseboards, etc.
- Nests made from items such as shredded paper, cardboard, dried plants, etc.
- Chewed holes in walls, baseboards or floorboards.
The sooner you act, the sooner you can get rid of these pests and stop them from damaging your home (or potentially making you or your loved ones sick). The following tips can help you get rid of mice right away:
Seal Known Openings
If you can see holes in the walls that mice likely used to get into your home, close them immediately. Use wire mesh, spray foam, or caulk to close these openings and prevent other mice (or other pests) from sneaking in.
set traps
You may also want to place traps (preferably human ones so the rats can be released into the wild) in areas where you've seen rats or evidence of rats (such as droppings).
Call a pest control company
A pest control company can thoroughly assess your home, identify any openings where rats are entering, and help you understand the extent of damage caused.
They can also strategically set traps to catch rats and use special equipment to seal their home and protect it from future infestations.
How to prevent rat infestations
Once you've dealt with a mouse problem, you'll probably want to do everything you can to keep them at bay. These tips will help you to prevent future infestations:
Trimming tree branches and bushes
If you have long tree branches that touch your roof or windows, or overgrown bushes, you can provide mice with a convenient runway directly to your home. Trim tree branches and shrubs regularly, ensuring they are at least six inches from the house.
Food containers with airtight seal
Rats, like many other creatures, are opportunistic. They will shoot if they see an opportunity to steal cookie crumbs from your cupboard or steal cereal from your pantry. Seal food containers tightly and use glass or plastic instead of cardboard when possible.
Schedule Preventive Treatments
Work with a pest control company to schedule regular preventative treatments. These treatments will help you keep rats away and catch signs that they are trying to come back sooner.
Say goodbye to rats today
All types of rats can get into your Texas home. However, if you remember the suggestions mentioned above, you can keep your home free of rodents for a long time to come.
If you need assistance from experienced pest control technicians, the qualified staff at Natran Green Pest Control are ready to help. We use effective, ecological and humane strategies to eliminate rats and other types of pests.
contact us todayfor more information or to schedule an inspection.