Rodents are some of the most adaptable critters that exist, preventative measures is key to effective rodent control. They are carriers of disease and can cause damage to property, including chewing electrical wires. They tend to be a neighborhood problem but if you are seeing them run around your property, we can help. Rodent exclusion and sanitation is the best way to keep them from entering and rodent bait stations on the outside will keep the exterior populations to a minimal. 

POCKET GOPHER

APPEARANCE

Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents with stocky bodies, small ears and eyes, and a sparsely-haired tail. Usually 5" to 7" inches long, brown or light gray with soft fur.

HABITAT 

Pocket gophers live in burrows below the surface. Their days are spent creating extensive networks of subterranean tunnels in a never-ending search of food. Feeding burrows usually are 6" to 12"  below ground, and the nest and food storage chamber can be as deep as 6 feet.

DIET 

Gophers feed on a variety of plants such as weeds, grasses, agricultural crops and garden plants. Their diet includes plant roots, bulbs, and underground plant stems. Gophers eat the roots they find while excavating their tunnels; on vegetation during their infrequent foraging above ground, and they sometimes drag surface vegetation into their tunnel.

POCKET GOPHER CONTROL 

Methods for gopher control include the use of baits and traps, placing the gopher bait and traps in the right location is the key to success. Prestige Pest Management uses bait to rid gophers by injecting it directly into their main burrows, insuring that the gophers will find and eat the bait. Follow-up treatments are often necessary and are scheduled several days apart. 

Fumigation with aluminum phosphide is very effective at controlling gopher populations, it is a restricted-use material and there are many limitations on where it can be applied.

HOUSE MOUSE

APPEARANCE

Small and slender, three to four inches long, with large ears, small eyes and pointed nose. Light brown or light gray. Droppings are rod-shaped.

HABITAT 

Mice live everywhere outside, and are found more often indoors than rats because they are smaller and more able to fit through small openings. Mice can fit through a crack or hole 1/4 of an inch or larger—about the width of a pencil. Their territory generally ranges 10 to 30 feet from their nest. They are curious but wary. They are also excellent climbers, making rodent control difficult. They can enter through holes in vents, around cables entering the building, and other openings around the structure.

DIET 

Omnivorous, but prefers seeds and cereal grains.

RODENT CONTROL 

Effective rodent control involves sealing as many holes and cracks as possible in the outside of the structure. Firewood should be stored as far from the home as possible and 4" to 6" off the ground. Keeping the structure foundation clear of debris, leaves, and clutter will help in keeping mice away. Mice can slip under many garage doors so it's important to tightly seal the door from the garage to the inside of the house.

NORWAY RAT

APPEARANCE

Gray, brown or black, with small eyes and ears and tails shorter than their bodies; up to 12 inches.

HABITAT

The Norway rat is the largest and most common structure-dwelling rat in the world. In rural areas it lives in fields, wooded areas and farms, and in urban areas in vacant lots and buildings. It nests in burrows underground and may enter buildings in search of food. Due to its large size, it needs a hole about the size of a quarter to enter a building. Once inside, Norway rats can chew through wiring, causing fires. Removing them often requires professional rodent control expertise. They are known to spread numerous diseases.

DIET

Norway rats will eat practically anything, including pet waste in backyards, although they prefer meat, fish and cereal.

NORWAY RAT CONTROL

Successful rodent control is a multi-faceted effort that includes routine inspection for signs of activity, placement of baits to control an existing population, and continued efforts to prevent inviting them into the structure. Removing their food and harborage sources will make your property less inviting. Seal any holes larger than 1/4″ wide. Broken trash receptacles or dumpsters and dripping faucets are an open invitations for rodents.

ROOF RAT

APPEARANCE 

Black or brown, 7 to 10″ long, large tail, large ears and eyes, and a pointed nose. Body is smaller and sleeker than Norway rat. Fur is smooth.

HABITAT 

Roof rats get their name from their preference of being up high on buildings. They are found all over Southern California. These rats have very poor vision and are colorblind. They only need a crack or opening the size of a quarter to enter a building, and once inside are known for the damage they cause by chewing on several types of materials and eating stored foods. Historically they were known as carriers of the highly dangerous bubonic plague, and continue to transmit serious diseases today.

DIET 

Omnivorous, but shows a preference for grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables.

ROOF RAT CONTROL AND PREVENTION 

To prevent roof rats from entering your home, seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. Remove sources of moisture and harborage, such as indoor trash cans, dripping faucets and open food in pantries. If a rat presence is suspected, we can inspect for warning signs and implement customized rodent control strategies to keep your environment healthy and free of these disease-spreading rodents.