Rodents are unwelcome house guests that no one wants to find. Nebraska is no stranger to rodents, as they are among the most common pests in the state. The rodents you’re most likely to find in Nebraska homes are house mice, deer mice and norway rats. Read on to learn more.
House Mice
House mice are small rodents that live in the cracks and crevices of people’s houses. They’re usually gray or brown in color and have small black eyes. One main identifier for house mice is the hair on their tails.
These mice are most commonly seen scurrying around in kitchen cabinets and tend to be most active at night. They don’t bring food back to their nests, they leave them at night to nibble on unattended food and return once they’re done. So, if you see food or packaging that looks like it has been nibbled on, this may be a sign of house mice.
House mice are small but cause large problems. They carry many types of diseases, the most common of which is salmonella. They also cause damage to homes by chewing on furniture and electrical wire.
Deer Mice
Deer mice are slightly larger than house mice and are often found in rural areas. These mice like to take shelter in barns and sheds, but are also known to make their way into your home, especially during the colder months. They have brown or gray fur covering their backs and heads, with white fur on their bellies and feet. They have large round ears and hairless tails. Their color markings, ears, and tails are the best way to distinguish them from house mice.
Deer mice like to be in their nests at night and are generally seen scuttling around during the day. These mice are major food thiefs. They steal bits of food and carry them to their nests where they eat them.
These mice cause similar damage to your home as house mice. They also carry harmful diseases, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and lyme disease.
Norway Rats
Norway rats are known by many names, including brown rats, sewer rats, and street rats. They’re much larger than mice and have longer tails. These rats have coarse fur that’s usually brown or black in color with white bellies. They tend to live in basements, attics, or other small spaces near food and water sources.
Like house mice, Norway rats are nocturnal. They do all their eating and burrowing at night. That’s why you may hear loud scratching noises inside the walls or ceiling while you’re trying to sleep. Norway rats, like mice, cause damage by gnawing on furniture, electrical wire, and the structural material of your home. They spread diseases and parasites by contaminating your food and leaving urine and droppings around your house.
Preventing Rodents in Your Home
Now that you know these rodents are lurking, here are some ways you can prevent them from taking residency in your home:
- Keep your home clean and free of clutter
- Properly store food
- Seal entry points
Even if you do everything you can to prevent rodents, they can still sneak their way in. If you see signs of rodents in your Nebraska home, call the pros here at Pro-Staff at 402-819-7378 or contact us online.
