Rodents and their Control

Rodents are members of the order Rodentia, which includes a great many animals, only a few of which are of importance as pests or nuisance wildlife. Their most notable common characteristic is a set of continually-growing incisors that must be kept short by gnawing, and which they use to gnaw through wood, break open food (such as nuts or seeds), and defend themselves against predators.

Commensal Rodents: Norway Rats, Roof Rats, and House Mice

There are many species of rodents, but three rodent species are of special public health importance: the Norway rat, the roof rat, and the house mouse.

These three species are collectively known as "commensal rodents" because they tend to live in close proximity to humans and eat the same food as we do. The word "commensal" means "eating at the same table," and this sharing of food occurs when rodents eat food that we have stored for our own use (such as when mice get into the pantry and chew through the breakfast cereal boxes), or when they eat leftovers or discarded human or animal food (such as when rats eat out of a dumpster outside a restaurant). Rats and mice consume or contaminate countless millions of pounds of human and animal food every year by their feeding, droppings, and shed hair.

Rats and mice are also important vectors of many diseases, and can also cause physical damage and an increased risk of electrical fires through their incessant gnawing. In fact, the first exterminators were "rat catchers" whose job it was to reduce the rat population after the connection between rodents and bubonic plague was scientifically established.

Rid-A-Critter provides professional rat control and mouse control to homes and businesses in Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Roswell, Columbus, and throughout North-Central Georgia.

Gray Squirrels

Gray Squirrels are among the most common nuisance animals in Georgia. Their excellent sense of balance and skill in climbing allow them to scoot up trees or the sides of buildings to gain access to homes and businesses. They are especially active in the fall and early winter, when their instincts tell them to start storing food (that's where the phrase "squirreling away" comes from) and to find a warm place to spend the winter.

Rid-A-Critter provides professional gray squirrel control, damage repair, and squirrel-proofing throughout North-Central Georgia.

Flying Squirrels

Flying squirrels have "wings" formed by skin extending between their legs and their bodies. This skin forms a parasail-like wing that enables them to leap from high places and glide fairly long distances. They can't take off and gain altitude like a bird or a bat can, however. Nonetheless, their impressive gliding ability allows flying squirrels to gain access to buildings through small openings that are very high up, making flying squirrel control and exclusion a challenge.

Rid-A-Critter provides professional flying squirrel control, damage repair, and squirrel-proofing throughout North-Central Georgia.

Rodent Control

To learn more about Rid-A-Critter's specific rodent control services, please contact us or visit the following pages:

• Gray Squirrel Control
• Flying Squirrel Control
• Rat Control
• Mouse Control

Thanks for visiting Rid-A-Critter!