Did you know? Mice and rats are extremely resilient

Why are rats and mice so resilient? Find out how a small rodent problem can quickly become a rodent infestation.

Did you know rats and mice, much like cockroaches, are known to be one of the most hardy pests in the world? This is because of a number of factors in their biology that help with their survival.
Mice have the ability to scale 2m walls, walk along thin ropes and wires, and they can make a vertical jump of up to 25.4cm! Combined, these traits are the reason why it’s ill-advised to have trees that overhang the roof of your premises or hanging wires. Additionally, it’s advised to close any gaps around the building’s roof to prevent rodents from entering.

Rats and mice possess a unique set of bodily characteristics that enable them to access almost any space: they have flexible skeletons so they can squeeze through a gap as small as 6mm. This poses a threat to any premises as it means they can squeeze through doors with gaps, windows that aren’t tightly closed, and air bricks that don’t have a protective wire mesh (or holes larger that 6mm).

Here are some rodents facts you may not be aware of: 

Fun fact #1 :

Did you know mice can swim over 1.5km in open water at speeds of 0.7km per hour?  That’s sure to give your doggo’s doggy paddle a run for its money…

We at Rentokil can attest to the fact that rats are prevalent through winter as well, due to the fact that  their bodies are designed to brave even our coldest winter. They are able to do so because their fur keeps them warm and they use their tails to regulate their body temperature by expanding and contracting their blood vessels.

Fun Fact #2:

Did you know mice use their whiskers to sense smooth and rough surfaces, temperature changes and breezes?

Mice and rats also have an impressive set of teeth as they never stop growing. Mice teeth can grow at a rate of 0.3mm per day! They have the ability to chew through anything that’s softer than their teeth – and this can pose a significant fire hazard as they are known to often chew electrical wires.

We advise that when proofing your premises for rats, that you use strong metal wire to prevent them from easily chewing through it, and cement for sealing up holes that may be used as entrances into your building.

Lastly, what often makes rats and mice the bane of many homes and businesses is their relentlessness when it comes to food consumption and reproduction.

The average mouse on average consumes 3 to 4g of food per day and often makes 20 to 30 visits to different food sites each night taking as little as 0.15g at each site. A mouse can also produce 7 – 8 litters of 4 – 16 pups per year and usually begin breeding at as little as 2 months of age. This means that without professional help you could find yourself experiencing an uncontrollable infestation in no time at all.  With these facts in mind imagine the amount of damage an infestation can cause on your premises when left unchecked.

You may also be interested to read our blog: ‘Are rats and mice the worst holiday guests you’ll ever have?‘

Fun Fact #3:

Mice can survive without water, but usually drink around 3ml a day.

As we’ve noted rodents have a bag full of physical and behavioural capabilities that make them the ultimate survivors and therefore rat traps and store-bought rodenticides may not be the comprehensive solution to deal with these hardy pests.

Bonus Fact:

When it comes to pest control, early prevention is key. Find out more about rodents and how to prevent them on our Rat & Mice blog articles.

Suspect that you may have a rodent problem?

We advise you to investigate a professional pest control service provider with the know-how, techniques and tech innovations to have the upper hand in the war against rodents.

With ongoing training for technicians and the latest technology, treatments and innovation, Rentokil is in the best position to be able to offer you the most efficient services to control rats and mice. Contact us today about your pest control needs.