Rodent Biology and Abilities

Rodent Abilities

Why they are such formidable pests and why you need Cascade to protect your home.

Rats

In King and Snohomish counties, we have both Norway rats and roof rats.

Excellent jumpers: Rats can jump vertically 36 inches and horizontally 48 inches. Dropping from a height of 50 feet doesn't kill or seriously injure rats.
Squeezing through small openings: Rats have flexible skulls and can fit through openings a half-inch in diameter.
Gnawing through barriers: Rats constantly gnaw anything softer than their teeth, including lead and aluminum sheeting, improperly cured concrete, sun-dried adobe brick, and wood.
Balance: Rats can easily climb brick or other rough walls that offer footholds, and can travel along power lines and ropes.
Climbing: Roof rats are agile climbers and can shimmy up the outside of three-inch-diameter pipes or between spout pipes and walls.
Burrowing: Norway rats can burrow to a depth of 4 feet.
Swimming: Norway rats can swim up to a half-mile, dive through water plumbing traps, and travel in sewer lines, even against strong currents. And yes, if you have an older home, rats can appear in your toilet.
Population growth: With up to 7 litters per year, as many as 12 offspring per litter, and sexual maturity in as little as 2 months, 2 rats under ideal conditions could multiply to 30,000 in one year! Fortunately, conditions are not always ideal, but even from 2 to 30 in one year is way beyond what any homeowner needs.

Mice

We have House Mice in urban/suburban areas and Deer Mice in outlying areas.

Curiosity: Extremely curious, mice are quick to explore any new additions to their environment.
Falling: Mice can fall or jump from a height of 12 feet without injury.
Jumping: Mice can leap at least 12 inches vertically.
Squeezing through small openings: Like rats, mice have flexible skulls and can fit through openings a quarter-inch in diameter.
Climbing: Mice can easily scale any vertical surface that is textured or rough enough to allow a toehold.
Balance: Mice can walk along telephone wires, ropes, and cables.
Swimming: Mice are good swimmers when they have to be.
Population growth: With up to 8 litters per year, as many as 6 offspring per litter, and sexual maturity at the age of 1 month, 2 mice could multiply to 150,000 in one year! Luckily that never happens, but people around the planet have been plagued by incredible mouse populations.


				Rat "rub marks." Rats have dirty, greasy bodies. In this case the rats would swing their bodies around the rafter ends under the eave while moving along the beam - leaving multiple "swing marks."

We provide pest control for: Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien Carnation, Clearview, Covington, Des Moines, Edmonds, Everett, Fall City, Federal Way, Goldbar, Issaquah, Juanita, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Maltby, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mukilteo, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Preston, Redmond, Renton, Richmond Beach, Sammamish, Seatac, Shoreline, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Startup, Sultan, Tukwila, Woodinville, Snohomish County, and King County.