House Mouse

House mouse identification from Batzner Pest Control in Wisconsin - Serving New Berlin, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and surrounding areas

House Mice in Wisconsin

House mice can squeeze through dime-sized cracks to gain entry into homes and buildings. House mouse fur varies in color from light brown to black, while the underbelly typically appears beige. Interestingly, the closer a house mouse lives in relation to humans, the darker the fur becomes. House mice nibble on small amounts of food, eating at dusk and before dawn. They are omnivores with a diet focused on seeds, roots, leaves, and stems. Female house mice can produce between 5 and 10 litters per year, with each litter containing anywhere from 5 to 12 young. They are dependent upon human activity for shelter and survival, which is why they are such a common household pest.

House Mouse Habitat

House mice thrive in various environments and are found in and around both homes and businesses, making their homes in wall voids, storage boxes, attics, barns, sheds, basements, crawl spaces, cabinets, warehouses, and many other similar locations. During the fall and winter months, the colder temperatures drive these mice indoors, seeking shelter. House mice prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas and often build nests out of paper products, cotton, packing materials, wall insulation, and fabrics. House mice are nocturnal, but they can be spotted during the day.

House Mouse Habits & Dangers

The house mouse is omnivorous but prefers grains and cereals. House mice contaminate food and are implicated in the transmission of diseases such as salmonella and bubonic plague. The house mouse can cause significant damage to structures by gnawing and tunneling through walls. Mice have also been implicated in the generation of fires and explosions in homes and buildings. Chewed, exposed wires inside walls can spark, causing interior walls to catch fire.

If you have a house mouse infestation in your Wisconsin property, contact your local rodent control experts!

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Norway Rat

Norway rat identification from Batzner Pest Control in Wisconsin - Serving New Berlin, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and surrounding areas

Norway Rats in Wisconsin

Norway rats are color-blind, but aside from their vision, their senses are keen (touch with long whiskers). They are nocturnal and can run, climb, jump, swim, and more. Norway rats will eat nearly any type of food, but if given a choice, they select fresh food over stale or contaminated foods. They prefer cereal grains, meats and fish, nuts, and fruit. Food items in household garbage offer a balanced diet and also satisfy their moisture needs. When food sources become scarce, Norway rats may resort to cannibalism and prey on younger, weaker rats. In general, the rodents are opportunistic and feed on anything discovered while foraging. They also are known to be more aggressive than other types of rats.

Norway Rat Habitat

Norway rats prefer to live in underground tunnels or burrows. Inside, they are often found in crawl spaces, basements, attics, or ceiling areas. Burrows of new, establishing rat populations are between 12-20 inches long. As the population grows, the burrows are enlarged and connect with other burrows to form a network of underground tunnels. Ground burrows usually have one central opening used for an entrance or exit and a couple of holes used for escaping. As the rat population increases and if food or water sources are limited, fighting will begin to defend territories. Dominant rats feed at night and are mostly nocturnal. The rats lower in rank are forced to reside in a section of the burrow further from food or water sources. They will feed and be active when the dominant rats are not active. Seeing rats active during the daytime often indicates a large population.

Norway Rat Habits & Dangers

By foraging persistently and gnawing on objects repeatedly, Norway rats cause damage to food, crops, and structures. Furthermore, the rodents engage in burrowing activities, which may lead to damage to gardens and landscaping. Historically, these rodents inspired horror and were largely responsible for spreading the bubonic plague in the 1300s. Also called the Black Death, the plague wiped out vast numbers of the world population. Though rats do not facilitate the same level of devastation today, the pests regularly carry pathogens for other harmful diseases.

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Deer Mouse

Deer mouse identification in Wisconsin - Batzner Pest ControlServing New Berlin, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and surrounding areas.

Deer Mice in Wisconsin

The common name of the deer mouse comes from the coloration of the rodent, which resembles a white-tailed deer. Omnivorous and adaptable, deer mice tend to be opportunistic eaters when they inhabit homes and buildings. In nature, the rodents target various invertebrates, seeds, fruits, grains, fungi, flowers, and nuts. The deer mouse typically lives a year in the wild but can survive for two or three years in captivity. These rodents are a common problem in agricultural areas, and will sometimes look for shelter in homes over winter. Their true danger lies in the fact that they are common carriers of hantavirus.

Deer Mouse Habits

As nocturnal rodents, deer mice rarely leave their well-hidden nests during the day. They nest in burrows, rock crevices, brush piles, and tree holes. Nests are made with a soft, insulating material, including moss, dried grass, leaves, and feathers. A nest may be inhabited by a family of deer mice consisting of the parents and several young. Over the course of a year, a family of deer mice may utilize several nests, typically abandoning a nest after it has become fouled with feces and waste. During colder months deer mice seek shelter inside and enter buildings. They are excellent climbers and can be found in even upper levels of structures, including attics.

Deer Mouse Habits & Dangers

Throughout most of the year, deer mice nest in outdoor areas that are quiet, dark, and undisturbed. When the weather gets colder during winter, deer mice tend to invade homes, garages, sheds, and sometimes even vehicles. When they get indoors, they are often found in basements or attics. Deer mice can leave greasy stains (sebum) on walls, windows, and other surfaces. The biggest threat of deer mice is that they are able to transmit the dangerous—and potentially fatal—hantavirus. This disease is often transmitted through contact with mouse carcasses, or by breathing in air-borne urine droplets from infected deer mice.

If you have a deer mouse infestation in your Wisconsin property, contact your local rodent control experts!

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