Rodents In North Carolina - Identification and Removal Guide!
Are you a homeowner in North Carolina dealing with a rodent infestation? Although North Carolina is a beautiful state to live in, it's also an attractive area for a variety of rodents that might be looking at your home as a new place to live this Fall and Winter! As the weather starts to get cooler, rodents are constantly searching for a nice warm place to call home for the Winter! In this guide, we'll be discussing everything you need to know about the types of rodents in North Carolina, how to identify them, and how to get rid of them!
Types Of Rodents In North Carolina:
Because North Carolina is a large state with many different biomes and ecosystems, the type of rodent might vary slightly from Western NC to Eastern NC. That being said, there are a handful of rodents that are consistent all across North Carolina:
1. Gray Squirrels:
Gray squirrels are the most common type of rodent in North Carolina and depending on where in the state you're located, you probably see them every single day! Gray Squirrels generally aren't considered an issue until they have decided to make their home in your basement, attic or crawl space. Once they've moved into your home they have the potential to destroy and gnaw on electrical wiring, destroy insulation and drywall, and pee and poop everywhere.
Gray squirrels can be difficult to remove from your home because they are very smart and crafty, and can fit through holes 1.5 inches in diameter. This means they can probably crawl into your attic via attic fans, exhaust pipes and ventilation and any other small hole along your roofline.
The best way to remove squirrels from your home is to trap them and remove them using one-way exclusion devices which allow the squirrels to leave your home but not to re-enter. Along with this, you'll need to focus on patching and sealing any holes so that once they're gone, they stay gone!
Thankfully, our team of professionals here at Terminix Triad has 90+ years of experience in rodent removal in NC, so we can evict any rodents from your home!
Get A Free Rodent Inspection Today!
2. Roof Rats:
Roof rats are a common rodent to homeowners in North Carolina and can be quite destructive to your home based on their keen ability to climb. These rats can also be referred to as Black Rats due to their dark colored fur. They are long and skinny with large pointed ears and scaley tails that are generally longer in length than their body.
These rats are commonly called Roof Rats because they like to climb houses and enter into homes via the roof or attic. They have also been known to make homes in gutters along rooflines.
3. Norway Rats:
Another common type of rat in North Carolina are Norway Rats. These types of rats aren't as avid of climbers as Roof Rats, but they can be even more aggressive and destructive to homes. Norway Rats in North Carolina are generally a bit larger than Roof Rats, between 7 and 10 inches long, and are typically brown in color with scattered black hairs on their back. They also tend to have a white or gray underbelly.
Norway Rats are avid scavengers and are often located in close proximity to humans due to them constantly looking for their next meal. This means that Norway Rats are often found in your basement or crawlspace rather than your attic, or really anywhere they can easily access without climbing and might have food.
Even if Norway Rats aren't making a nest inside of your basement or crawlspace, they often will create nests outside in close proximity to your home, which makes your basement a frequent place of visiting for these rats.
4. Voles or Field Mice:
Voles are often referred to as field mice or meadow mice, but they technically are their own separate species than mice. They live in grassy outdoor areas where they can dig and create extensive tunnel systems for them to travel. These are often hated by homeowners because these tunnel systems can destroy your lawn. Along with this, they reproduce very quickly and a female vole can birth over 100 babies per year which means these infestations can quickly become a serious problem!
Voles can be identified by their long and slender bodies, usually between 3-7 inches in length, with small ears and eyes. Along with this, they have short tails and are brown or gray in color.
Voles are often difficult to remove because they spend most of their time underground, but they can be removed via baiting and trapping!
Final Thoughts On Rodents In NC:
As a North Carolina homeowner, the reality is that one day you'll probably be faced with a rodent infestation issue. Although this might seem worrisome, rodent infestations can be handled with the help of the professionals at Terminix Triad!