Mice are a pest that are commonly difficult to actually see if you do spot a mouse in your home or business, it will likely look like a rapidly moving furry blur. Mice are fast and often have various roots around your home or business. That means that they can escape through cracks in the walls.

How to identify a House Mouse 

House mice are active all year round, which means you could find them invading your home or business at any time.

Appearance

• Size: 70 – 95mm in length, with a tail around the same length.
• Weight: 12 – 30g.
• Their relatively small feet & head and large eyes & ears distinguish them from a young brown rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Lifecycle

• 4 – 16 young per litter; 7 – 8 litters a year.
• Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
• 8 – 12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.

Habits

• Usually ground living and burrowing, but often climbs.
• Preferred food is cereals.
• Will eat around 3g of food a day and can survive without any additional water. They will drink up to 3ml a day if their diet is particularly dry.

Like mice, rats can pose a significant health risk when infesting homes and businesses, spreading disease and contaminating food, as well as damaging electrical wiring, and buildings. This can lead to potential fires.

Pestpro uses safe and effective methods when carrying out our proven rat control in Perth. We identify the source of the infestation, and any potential access points, ensure the proper treatment and control of the rodents, and prevent their return.

Roof Rat

There are two main types of rats that cause concern in Australia. The  Norwegian rat) and the Roof Rat, which was introduced to this country are a common pest in both private homes and businesses.

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How to identify Roof Rat (Rattus rattus)

Roof rats can be found in coastal towns and in many urban environments across Australia.

Appearance

• The roof rat is between 16–24cm in length, with a tail longer than the head and body.
• It grows to between 150–200g in weight.
• They have a pointed nose, large ears and a slender body.

Lifecycle

• Roof rats produce 5–10 young per litter, and have between 3–6 litters a year.
• The gestation period is about 3 weeks.
• It only takes between 12–16 weeks from birth for them to reach sexual maturity.

Habits

• They are incredibly agile and very good climbers.
• Their preferred food is moist fruits. Roof Rats will eat around 15g of food a day and drink 15ml.

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How to identify Norwegian Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Norway  rats usually prefer ground living and burrowing, but sometimes they can be known to climb

Appearance

• The brown rat is up to 40 cm in length, with a tail shorter than the head and body.
• It grows up to between 350–500g in weight.
• It has a blunt nose, small ears and a thicker body when compared to the Roof Rat (Rattus rattus).

Lifecycle

• Rats have 7–8 young per litter, and between 3–6 litters a year.
• The gestation period is about 3 weeks.
• It only takes 10–12 weeks from birth to reach sexual maturity.

Habits

• Preferred food is cereals, although they are omnivorous.
• They will eat around 30g of food a day and drink 60ml.