Mice and rats are active during dusk or night
Rodents can be quite a problem for home owners. The major pests are house mice, rats and roof rats. House mice thrive under a variety of conditions: they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food, pet food and animal feed. In addition, they often cause considerable agricultural and property damage. Mice are mostly active during dusk or night; they do not like bright lights. They live in a wide variety of hidden places that are near food sources and construct nests from various soft materials. They will eat their droppings to acquire nutrients produced by bacteria in their intestines. You can make your property less attractive to rodents by some simple housekeeping and landscaping practices. Exclude mice from your premises by sealing all openings larger than ¼” wide. Good sanitation practices will reduce sources of food, water, and shelter. Store foodstuff in rodent-proof containers. Control weeds and remove debris from the outside of your home.
Roof Rats can be controlled by thining and trimming trees up several feet off the ground. Rake up dead leaves, and pick up any fruit that falls to the ground. Eliminate any areas where rats could find shelter. In most cases, it is necessary to bait outdoors to keep the population down. Homeowners should use disposable gloves when handling dead rodents.