There was a scene back in the black-and-white television days in which a housewife is heard screaming in fear for her life. The husband rushes from the living room to find his wife standing on top of a chair or stool, swatting at a small rodent with a broom. While those classic tv programs used the woman's overreaction to the tiny animal for a laugh, a mouse or rat infestation is no laughing matter. 

Most rodent species have short pregnancy terms when compared to other animals, so one pair of mice can very quickly become a full-on invasion in just a few short months. Rodents make up roughly one-third of all mammals on the planet, and something that they have in common is that their front teeth never stop growing. Those sharp incisors can grow up to several inches per year. Because of this, the animals must constantly find something to gnaw on. Rats' teeth rank approximately 5.5 on the Mohs Scale, which is used to measure mineral hardness using scratch resistance testing. This ranking places the hardness of their teeth higher than copper or iron, which explains why they have such an easy time chewing through even harder materials such as brick, metal, cement, and cinder blocks when trying to get into your home. 

A big difference between mice and rats is their general behavior. Mice are curious creatures and often explore and investigate new areas or items in their vicinity, while rats tend to err on the side of caution. If new items are placed in a familiar area, a rat can usually avoid them until it's had time to get used to them being there. When threatened though, mice generally flee while rats can be aggressive, so they should be approached with caution. They can be distinguished from each other by their size; rats are larger with rounder bodies and long, fleshy tails. Also, rats' coloration is often darker than mice, although mice have more colors, from white to brown to yellow-skinned to black. 

What they have in common is the destruction they can cause and the diseases they can transmit. Once in your home, they go on a search for food, water, and shelter. In the pantry, they can easily tear through plastic and cardboard containers and eat their fill, damaging way more than they eat with their urine and feces. Once inside walls and attics, they have seemingly endless choices for nesting and bedding materials, and their bodily fluids can contaminate whatever it touches. Cleaning up after them can be hazardous; combined, they can pass along over 35 diseases to humans.

When you're dealing with a mouse or a rat infestation, it's time to call for some professional help. If you live near south Santa Clara, Silicon Valley, or the surrounding region, contact Delta Pest Control. We have a wealth of experience in identifying the source of rodent infestations, getting rid of the problem, and preventing them from coming back. We're here for you, so ask about our services or for an estimate.