Rodents. You think you know them, but do you really? Or are you holding on to fictitious beliefs rather than facts?

Comprising 40% of mammal species, rodents aren’t just composed of mice and rats; they also include squirrels, guinea pigs, hamsters, gophers, beavers, gerbils, porcupines, and chipmunks. (But since mice and rats are the most common rodent pests, we’ll focus on them in this article.)

Humans have long considered rodents to be pests, and we’re still struggling on how to deal with them today. It can be frustrating to get rid of them, even more so if your solution is based on a myth. So, let’s debunk the most common rodent myths asap!

Here are five myths about rodents that you should eradicate right now:

Myth 1: Cats will take care of your rodent problem.

The truth: Unfortunately, cats aren’t very effective at eliminating rodents, specifically rats. A study funded by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) found that cats don’t successfully kill and control rat populations. The researchers observed that “less than 1% of cat and rat encounters resulted in a rat being killed; despite stalking behavior being observed 20 times.”

Scientists also found that, indeed, when the cat is away, the mice—in this case, rats—will play. For every cat sighting, the researchers observed, rats were nearly 20% more likely to move toward a shelter. But while the sight of a cat might get rats hiding initially, “the rodents will patiently wait them out and return undeterred once the cats lose interest and leave the scene.”

Myth 2: Rodents love cheese.

The truth: Despite what “Tom and Jerry” and other cartoons might have us believe, mice—and other rodents—aren’t tempted by cheese.

A 2006 study found that a mouse’s diet consists primarily of grains and fruit. So if you’re thinking about what to put in that mousetrap to attract mice, Procter Rodent Control, a family firm which has been producing Britain’s best-selling mousetrap since 1897, suggests peanut butter and chocolate.

Myth 3: Rodents eat anything and everything.

The truth: Sorry, but rodent’s aren’t nature’s living garbage disposal. Like humans, they do have a diet, and it consists of what can be found in their environment.

In a 2018 study, researchers studied the bones of rats and found that those living in the city had “a higher-quality and more stable diet than rural rats did,” while rats in the country ate whatever food they could find—confirming Aesop’s “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” story.

“Rats are really interesting, because their diets are a reflection of foods people leave lying around,” said Eric Guiry, an archaeologist at Trent University in Ontario and lead author of the study. For example, city rats ate a lot more meat than rural rats.

Meanwhile, homeowners might mistake chewed up books, papers, wires, and insulation as getting eaten by mice. But in reality, female mice use these shredded materials to build a nest.

Myth 4: Rodents that ingest poison get dehydrated and go outside to look for water.

The truth: Rodent baits, or rodenticides, can take effect as quickly as two days or up to 10 days, depending on how fast-acting or lethal it is. The poison works by reducing the rodent’s blood-clotting ability, which damages its capillaries and causes internal hemorrhage. So the rodent dies of internal bleeding—not dehydration—but the delay can mean that the rodent can die in its nest, inside your property or outside.

Myth 5: Seeing rodents during the day means you have a rodent infestation.

The truth: While rats and mice are nocturnal, that doesn’t mean they don’t come out during the day. These rodents are just so good at keeping out of sight that you might only notice a mouse or rat scampering in your house or commercial building when there’s already a severe infestation. Telltale signs of rodent infestation include droppings, stale smells, chewed holes in walls or floors, and shredded materials.

Don’t let it come to this!

Now that we’ve debunked myths about rodents, you’re one step closer to getting rid of those pesky rodents more effectively.

Don’t wait for a severe infestation. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

Animal removal can be tricky at times. Being able to pinpoint the location, identify the source of the noise and remove the animal is one of the harder aspects of wildlife control. Our wildlife experts use the latest in technology to help them.

How On The Fly Pest Solutions humanely removes animals in the Baltimore area.

No, it’s not an oxymoron. Although animal removal and sustainability seem opposite of each other, the two can certainly live together… (see what we did there?)

Man has been battling wild creatures over resources and living space since the beginning of time. And while it’s safe to say that we’ve won that battle, only recently have we begun to realize the consequences of fighting.

Right here in Maryland, we’ve seen the Grey Wolf, American elk, snowshoe hare, and several other species disappear from the wild completely!

Our Sustainable Wildlife Removal Solution

We now understand that we need to work with Mother Nature and focus on more humane methods of animal removal.

Humane animal removal and humane animal control mean that the relocation of animals is made as comfortable as possible for the creature in question.

Here at On the Fly Pest Solutions, we work to ensure that critters can’t make their way back into your solar powered home. As part of our humane animal removal service, we use things like one-way doors and excluders while sealing up points of entry.

These sustainable methods are so effective that we warranty our seal ups for up to two years.

Wild animals are fascinating and necessary for the balance of our ecosystem. But as much as we want to keep these animals within our environment, it’s unrealistic to share our homes with them (for their safety just as much as our own.)

What to do When You Need Wildlife Removal Services

If you’re ever faced with an uninvited guest (of the animal kind, of course), give us a call, and we’d be happy to relocate it back to an appropriate habitat.

Check out some of the creatures we’ve been called to relocate here and find out more about what we do and how we do it!

Our emergency wildlife team responded to a fawn that had fallen through a covered window well. The mother deer patiently waited close by as our expert technicians safely removed the fawn and reunited him with his mother. Our technicians replaced the cracked cover with a new one to prevent similar incidences in the future.

Eastern Subterranean Termites are a serious issue in Maryland. The average cost of termite related damages in the US equals over 5 billion dollars annually. Termites cause more damage to homes in the US than fires, floods, storms and severe winds combined.

Watch as our wildlife team begins a flying squirrel removal! Flying Squirrels are actually quite common in Maryland, although they are not often seen due to their nocturnal nature. They get their name from the webbed skin that stretches from their front to their rear legs that enables them to glide distances of up to 200 feet! Their size enables them to fit into holes the size of a dime and, in this case, take refuge in an Owings Mills customer’s attic. Flying squirrels are a colonizing species and will live together in groups of up to 15 members. This creates quite a racket and quite a mess. Our wildlife team found the entry point, trapped the squirrels and sealed up the attic to prevent any future intrusions.

Bed bugs aren’t easy to find, and their bites aren’t easy to diagnose. People react differently to the bites. Some are left with bite marks, others with rashes and others have no reactions at all. Bed bug bites can easily be confused with spider bites or rashes, but experienced pest control technicians are trained to find and control infestations. Since bed bugs like to hide, one of the first signs of an infestation is usually the fecal matter. Bed bugs leave behind rusty reddish-black marks and fecal spots on sheets, pillows, mattresses and just about any surface close to where they’re feeding. Bed bugs usually feed about 3 times a night, resulting in multiple bite marks and lots of feces. Bed bug cases will also be found when they shed their exoskeletons as they grow. Eggs are laid every night in mattress folds. The bed bugs themselves hide in box springs, mattresses, outlet covers, rugs and just about any tight spot close to the feeding sites. Populations grow fast and can easily be transferred from one area to the next. If you’ve traveled recently, you’re at risk of carrying bed bugs back into your home. Once they’re in your home, an extensive treatment is needed to get rid of them. If you feel you might have bed bugs, contact On The Fly to schedule an inspection.