Rodent Control Near Columbia, SC

Common Species of Mice and Rats in Columbia

Columbia’s warmer climate, swampland and rivers, heavy tree coverage, and older sewer lines all provide an attractive habitat for rats and mice.

The two rat species concerning for Columbia homeowners:

• The Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
  Also known as the Brown Rat or Sewer Rat, these foot-long, reddish-brown rodents are ground-dwellers that like to stay out of sight. They’re most often found nesting in cool, dark, damp sewers, basements, crawlspaces, and cluttered storage areas. They reproduce rapidly, live in large groups, and eat anything from garbage to sweets to soap. Norway rats transmit diseases directly by biting people and contaminating food, and indirectly by carrying lice and fleas.
• The Roof Rat (Rattus rattus)
  Also known as the Black Rat, it naturally lives in trees. But as fall brings cooler weather, this house rat prefers to hunker down in a warm attic or crawl space. You don’t want them in your home to avoid expensive structural damage. They gnaw through walls to get inside and chew up electrical wiring, insulation, and other materials to build nests. A prolific breeder, female roof rats give birth multiple times a year. You are most likely hosting a roof rat population far beyond what you originally encountered.

Common mice you’ll find on your Columbia property:

• The House Mouse (Mus musculus)
  This 2-3 inch long gray mouse with a pointy pink muzzle and ears is the most common rodent in the entire U.S. Its favorite food is grain, so raiding your kitchen pantry is a frequent activity.
• The Deer Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)
  Also known as the White-Footed Mouse, it is identified by its large size, between 6 and 8 inches long, and its namesake for white feet and underbelly. These large-eared deer mice love to nest in basements and attics during the winter months.
• The Cotton Mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus)
  Similar in looks to a white-footed mouse, the cotton mouse is a little longer, from 7 to 9 inches, and its tail and skull are both longer. You’ll most likely encounter one of these rodents in your basement or crawlspace.