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RODENTS

 

Courtesy of The CDC:

Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. Rodent-borne diseases are spread directly to humans through bite wounds, consuming food or water that is contaminated with rodent feces, coming in contact with surface water contaminated with rodent urine, or through breathing in germs that may be present in rodent urine or droppings that have been stirred into the air (a process known as “aerosolization”). Diseases from rodents are also spread indirectly to humans by way of ticks, mites, and fleas that transmit the infection to humans after feeding on infected rodents. In some cases, the rodents are the reservoirs (carriers) of the diseases, while in other cases the ticks, mites, or fleas act as the disease reservoirs.

View a list of some of the diseases that are transmitted directly and indirectly from rodents to humans:

Diseases Directly Transmitted by Rodents Diseases Directly Transmitted by Rodents

Diseases Indirectly Transmitted by Rodents Diseases Indirectly Transmitted by Rodents
 

ROOF RAT (Rattus rattus)Roof Rat

Biology

  • Length: 6 to 8 inches

  • Weight: 5 to 12 ounces

  • Normally brown to gray-black in color

  • Tail is longer than head and body combined.

  • Droppings are up to ½ inch long, spindle shaped with pointed ends.

Distribution/Habits

  • Found worldwide

  • Prefer to nest in upper parts of structure, such as roof tops

  • Will nest outdoors in higher areas, such as tree tops, or will nest in burrows in or under vegetation around buildings

  • Will shy away from new objects in their established route to food and water sites.

DEER MICE (Peromyscus maniculatus)Deer Mouse

Biology

  • Also called white-footed mouse

  • Color varies from gray to red-brown.

  • The underbelly and feet are white.

  • Large eyes and ears

  • Tail is covered with short fine hair and is distinctly bi-colored, dark on top and white on bottom.

  • Deer Mice are the primary vector of hanta viruses.

Distribution/Habits

  • Found throughout the United States with the exception of some Southern and Southeastern parts

  • Nocturnal and feed primarily at night                                Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) Photo   Courtesy-CDC

  • They nest in small shallow burrows, hollow stumps, or beneath small fallen logs, and will occasionally infest    homes or other buildings.

  • Normally 3 to 4 litters a year, producing 3 to 6 young per litter.

HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus)House Mouse

Biology

  • Length: 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches

  • Tail is longer than body.

  • Large ears, small eyes

  • Color varies from light brown to dark gray on top with a lighter color on belly.

Distribution/Habits

  • Found throughout the United States and the world

  • Nibbles when feeding

  • Will gnaw on almost anything

  • Nests in various materials such as insulation.

NORWAY RAT (Rattus norvegicus)Norway Rat

Biology

  • Length: 7 to 9 ½ inches

  • Weight: 7 to 20 ounces

  • Normally brown with some black hair

  • Tail is shorter than head and body combined.

  • Droppings are up to ¾ inch long with capsule-shaped, blunt ends.

Distribution/Habits

  • Found worldwide

  • Primarily nocturnal

  • Prefer to nest in burrows in soil by streams, lakes, rubbish etc. In structures, they prefer to be in ground or lower levels.

  • Will travel up to 150 feet from their nesting site to obtain food or water.

 

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