Rodent Identification Guide

While thousands of rodents live worldwide in almost every habitat imaginable, five rodent species in our area regularly find their way into our Rhode Island yards and homes. 

1. Deer mice
2. Field mice
3. House mice
4. Norway rats
5. Roof rats

Rodents are regular visitors to our properties because they have learned that our yards, garages, sheds, and homes offer them a place to forage for food and often easy access to water.

While each species of rodent is unique, the rodents that are regular visitors to our properties all cause the same kinds of problems:

• Spreading allergens, disease, viruses, and parasites
• Using their sharp front incisors to damage things like wires, cables, drywall, flooring, and furniture
• Triggering fires, short circuits, and water leaks. 
• Introducing parasites into yards and homes
• Contaminating food and surfaces with their shed fur, excrement, and urine.

Rodent problems can arise in any Rhode Island home. Rodents can find a way inside, whether you live next to a field, wooded area, alleyway, or beach.

Rodents have high metabolisms and are constantly searching for sources of food to keep their bellies full. Once they find a food source, they will keep returning to the area. Things in our yards like open trash cans, gardens, bird feeders, and outdoor eating areas will catch the eye of rodents.

As rodents keep returning to your yard, these curious critters are likely to find a way into your house. Rodents can find a way into any home any time of the year, but in our area, when the temperature drops in the late fall, rodents like to move inside to take advantage of the warm, safe shelter they provide.

Rodents are prey animals and have a natural desire to stay hidden and out of the limelight. Whether in our yards or homes, rodents take cover in dark, quiet areas.

Gardens, shrubbery, woodpiles, sheds, and garages provide rodents with shelter outside of our homes. In our homes, they regularly hide and build nests in attics, wall voids, the backs of cabinets, and inside cardboard boxes or in areas of clutter.

Since rodents are nocturnal, it may take you some time before you notice their presence. In addition to seeing rodents themselves, other signs of a rodent infestation include:

• Finding their droppings.
• Discovering gnaw marks on cabinets, boxes, or furniture.
• Hearing scratching sounds behind walls.
• Noticing a strong, musty odor in your home.

The easiest way to rid your property of rodents is to partner with an experienced professional. At Encon, we treat our customers like family and work as a team to ensure we meet your pest control needs, and your family and home are kept safe from rodents. Our rodent control services for local residents include identifying entry points, recommendations for structural repairs, minor exclusion services, and of course, we will perform the treatments necessary to eliminate rodents from your home. To learn more about our rodent control services in Worcester, MA, and surrounding areas, reach out to Encon today!

Reduce the chances of rodents making themselves at home in your Rhode Island house by doing the following things:

• Look for cracks or holes in the foundation of your home. Repair any that you find.
• Repair damage to the roofline of your house. 
• Ensure appropriate covers are on chimneys, vents, and drains leading into your home.
• Take away their access to food by keeping lids on trash cans, picking up pet food, maintaining eating and food prep areas, and regularly harvesting gardens. 
• Remove dense or overgrown vegetation from your yard that could provide hideouts for rodents. 
• Get rid of as much clutter from your home as possible and keep storage areas organized to reduce spots where they can hide.