Rodents such as rats and mice are the most common and extraordinarily resilient pests in North America and around the world. The presence of them in or near your home or business can be unnerving and even frightening. There are few openings that they can’t get into and once they’re indoors everything from your attic to the basement becomes potential nesting sites. Their tendency to get into our food source puts humans at risk for contamination and threatens our health. With their rapid reproduction capabilities, rodent infestations require quick action by professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to handle it.
There is one reason and one reason only why mice have taken up residence in or around your home or business - a readily available food source. Their nests are usually within ten feet in proximity to their food supply, which typically means your kitchen, but they can be outdoors as well. Not only do mice contaminate our food source with their dander, urine, and feces but they can also transmit diseases indirectly through ticks, fleas or mites. Mice reproduce quickly, making them particularly troublesome. Properly eliminating mice requires knowledge and experience of their makeup and habits.
Throughout history, the rat has adapted to all types of human environments: fields, granaries, sewers, ship vessels, trees, homes, and large buildings; anywhere they can find food and water. If rats are nesting or scavenging in or near your home or business, it is imperative that you do all you can to remove them as soon as possible. Not only can rats cause a lot of damage from their constant gnawing they are extremely dangerous to have around due to the potential diseases they carry. Properly exterminating these large rodents requires knowledge and experience of their makeup and habits.
Eradicating rodents typically involves identifying how they are getting in and out of the home, exterminating the current population, and sealing up your home so they cannot get back in. Due to their rapid mating capabilities, Creature Control deals with the entire rodent infestation, not just reducing the population. Individual trapping alone is usually not sufficient in dealing with larger infestations. Here’s why:
Creature Control technicians are experts in identifying rodent entry points, locating nesting areas, and removing them; keeping your home rodent-free. Our technicians will review with the homeowner the activity they’ve witnessed, perform a thorough foundation to roof-line inspection (including the attic), which will identify entry points, nesting sites, and potential problem areas. After inspection, our technicians will write up an estimate for repairing and sealing entry points to prevent further invasion. They also make recommendations for environmental changes to help avoid further breaches. For the treatment of mice and rats, Creature Control utilizes various rodenticides based on the situation and install discreet, tamper-resistant rodenticide bait stations or traps to eliminate the existing rodent population. Creature Control uses the integrated pest management approach of rodenticide applications, helping you restore your peace of mind knowing that your family and pets are kept safe.
Rodents can be a big problem in commercial developments. This is especially true in restaurants and venues that serve food, but mice can infest any structure that offers them conducive conditions such as factories, offices, apartment complexes, and retail stores. It often occurs that businesses have problems that are not their fault; perhaps they are located next to a restaurant whose dumpster enclosure is unsanitary, or otherwise have a neighboring business that is the source of the issue. Still, if rodents are in your establishment, they are your problem!
The last thing any business needs or wants is a bunch of traps lying around. Please keep in mind that conventional trapping is not sufficient for commercial standards. Creature Control employs a combination of rodenticide bait stations to knock out existing rodent populations and performs structural modifications to prevent future re-infestations. We also offer rat management plans for situations where rats are frequenting dumpster enclosures or getting into structures. Our technicians have the knowledge and experience exterminating both mice and rat infestations, providing tremendous attention to detail to ensure the job is done right.
Creature Control’s wildlife control technicians will assess the situation, place discreet rodenticide bait stations that will eliminate the rodent population, and write up an estimate for repairs to seal your property against rodent intrusion. Creature Control utilizes the integrated pest management approach of rodenticide applications, helping to restore your peace of mind so you can focus on your business.
Creature Control has developed a program in which we combine progressive defense in the form of fresh rodenticide at specific intervals and active monitoring to gauge the level of mouse activity. The frequency is tailored to your situation and can be upgraded to include insect treatments for a discounted rate. Best of all, it’s non-invasive, and there is no cancelation fee. All work is completed on the exterior, so it is unnecessary to schedule an appointment: one of our techs will show up at the next service interval and let you know the level of activity observed after the restock. It’s simple and way more affordable than starting over with a new pest infestation.
Scratching during the day may indicate the presence of a bat, but this is uncommon.
More common sources of scratching or clawing during the day is a squirrel or a yellowjacket hive in the drywall, if it is summer.
A scratching sound coming from the attic is a good indication of the presence of a bat. The scratching may be constant or intermittent and may occur at day or night, though with a bat, this scratching will usually be heard at night. This is the sounds of the claws on the bat's wings as it moves around.
It may also indicate the presence of mice, however. An inspection is necessary to more directly pinpoint the source of the sound.
Gnawing sounds during the day are almost always due to the presence of a rodent, such a mouse, squirrel, chipmunk, or sometimes a rat. Rodents are characterized by their large incisor teeth, which continually grow and must be worn down by constant gnawing. Rodents will gnaw on wires, insulation and anything else they can find in an attic. Many house fires due to electrical problems are caused by damaged wires due to squirrel gnawing.
If you are hearing gnawing or chewing sounds at night, it may indicate the presence of a raccoon. Usually this will be accompanied by other noises, such as heavy walking. If you do not hear this, it may be a flying squirrel or some other rodent.
A "rolling" sound is usually due to the presence of a red squirrel bringing in nuts or other debris and rolling it around up in the attic, as squirrels will use attics to hoard food. If you hear this sound during the day, it is certainly a red squirrel, since red squirrels are the only mammals that commonly get into attics that are active during the day (flying squirrels get into attics as well but they are nocturnal). The "rolling" sound associated with a squirrel is sometimes described as the sound of marbles rolling.
If it is not a squirrel, there's a possibility a rolling sound could be made by birds moving around in a tight space.
Rolling sounds at night can be caused by flying squirrels, which are nocturnal. It is made by the squirrel bringing nuts or other debris into the attic or wall.
Raccoons may also make a rolling sound, though this is less common.
Scampering or scurrying during the day is almost always attributable to a squirrel, as most other scurrying animals (such as mice) are nocturnal.
A scurrying or scampering sound at night is usually due to mice moving through the walls, ceiling, or along the floor.
Nocturnal flying squirrels may make this noise as well; peak periods of activity for flying squirrels are just before dawn and shortly after sunset. Their scurrying is light and fast.
Raccoons may also make this sort of noise, but with a raccoon it will be more of a "walking" sound, a bit heavier than a squirrel, and not as fast.
Heavy walking or crawling is a very unique sound that almost always indicates the presence of a raccoon, whether it occurs during the day or night.
Heavy walking or crawling is a very unique sound that almost always indicates the presence of a raccoon, whether it occurs during the day or night.
If you can clearly hear the sound of flapping during the day, it is definitely a bird.
If you hear flapping at night, it is either a trapped bird or a bat. Nuisance birds are generally not active at night, so if you hear flapping it may be a bird that has become trapped. The flapping of a bat's wings is very soft, almost like a dull whirring. If you hear a very faint, soft whirring, it may mean a bat is flying around nearby in the dark.
Crackling is a very particular noise that is generally made by a yellowjacket hive within the drywall of your home. yellowjackets will pick and gnaw on drywall and use the pieces to construct their hives. The sound of this gnawing is often described as a crackling; it sounds a lot like Rice Krispies popping. If you hear this, it means the yellowjackets are close to gnawing through the dry wall. It is not as common at night, but certainly can happen then as well if the hive is big enough.
Crackling is a very particular noise that is generally made by the presence of a yellowjacket hive within the drywall of your home. yellowjackets will pick and gnaw on drywall and use the pieces to construct their hives. The sound of this gnawing is often described as a crackling; it sounds a lot like Rice Krispies popping. If you hear this, it means the yellowjackets are close to gnawing through the dry wall.
A sound of chirping or chattering usually means there are baby animals present. What species depends on the season, but it is very common for baby squirrels, raccoons, or birds (especially chimney swifts) to make these noises. Please contact Creature Control for a more thorough diagnosis.
A sound of chirping or chattering usually means there are baby animals present. What species depends on the season, but it is very common for baby squirrels, raccoons, or birds (especially chimney swifts) to make these noises. Please contact Creature Control for a more thorough diagnosis.