Rodents in North Carolina: 6 Types of Rodents
14 million American homes have pests. But what does a rodent infestation in North Carolina look like?
If you suspect any pest problems at home, it’s time to call a professional. However, it helps to understand what types of rodents are local to your area.
That way, you can identify these dangers with rodents in North Carolina. You’ll also understand how vital calling an expert is – and soon.
Keep reading to learn more.
Rats
Roof rats, also known as black rats, are great climbers. They can climb to the roofs, enter homes through the attic, or make a habitat in the gutters. They have dark brown to black fur, grow to about 16 inches in length, and have pointed noses.
Norway rats, also known as the common brown rat, are an aggressive rat breed. These rats are 16 inches long and usually appear light brown with a gray or yellow underside and a blunt nose.
Are Rats Dangerous?
In the US, rodents cause billions of dollars worth of damage every year. This number partly involves rats, who must keep chewing to keep their teeth sharp. So, they’ll chew through building materials and wires, threatening people’s property and domestic livability.
All rats are capable of causing this damage, including the rodents in North Carolina. Roof rats are likelier to damage roofing materials, while Norway rats can burrow underneath homes, threatening the home’s foundation.
Rats are also high-risk disease carriers, but Norway rats are some of the most notorious spreaders of disease – they’re even responsible for the bubonic plague and the Seoul Hantavirus. They carry parasites and usually spread disease by contaminating food with their urine, feces, and saliva.
Mice
Another of the common rodents in North Carolina are Deer mice, which run and jump very quickly. These mice are reddish-brown with a white underside and large black feet.
House mice commonly settle in people’s homes. They’re especially prevalent during extreme weather since they usually shelter indoors to avoid outdoor temperatures. They grow to be about 7 1/2 inches long and have light brown fur and a lighter-colored underside.
Are Mice Dangerous?
Out of all mice, deer mice are some of the more infamous carriers of disease. They’re one of four rodents carrying Hantavirus and incur a higher transmission risk than other rodents carrying the disease. Deer mice often contaminate food with their saliva, urine, or feces.
Like rats and the other rodents in North Carolina, mice chew constantly. For that reason, they will chew through wires and building materials, causing various disasters such as severe property damage and electrical fires.
Squirrels
Gray squirrels in North Carolina are especially common. Chances are, if you’ve seen a squirrel in North Carolina, you’ve seen the gray squirrel. As their name indicates, gray squirrels have gray fur and white undersides, growing to 14-21 inches in length.
Are Squirrels Dangerous?
Squirrels are common rodents in North Carolina, but they’re not common house pests. At most, they usually damage landscape ornaments or invade outdoor trash cans and don’t want to enter human habitats.
But if they become a problem, they can spread disease through bodily fluids like rats and mice. They can also chew through electrical wires and building materials, causing property damage. Since they’re also bigger rodents, they may cause more substantial problems and scare off other welcomed fauna such as birds.
Chipmunks
Chipmunks in North Carolina are everywhere, but especially in the state’s mountain areas. They’re also said to have brighter fur than chipmunks from more northern states.
Are Chipmunks Dangerous?
Like other rodents in North Carolina, chipmunks can spread disease and cause structural property damage. They can also be responsible for Lyme disease outbreaks. They also increase the risk of lice transmission to humans.
Voles
Voles aren’t mice, but they’re often mistaken for them. They’re also called field mice or meadow mice, living in complex tunnel networks in grassy areas. These rodents grow 5-8 inches in length and have short tails, small eyes, semi-hidden ears, and small, dense bodies.
Are Voles Dangerous?
Aside from the typical dangers from rodents in North Carolina, voles also repopulate quickly. Female voles are sexually mature 28 days from birth and can give birth to over 100 voles a year.
Vole infestations can quickly get out of hand and cause incredible damage to someone’s property. Not only that, but they can also be severe nuisances, digging many unwanted holes in homeowners’ backyards.
Beavers
Beavers are the biggest of all rodents in North Carolina, and in North America as well. Beavers have stocky builds, weighing 30 – 40 pounds. They also have dense, reddish-brown to black fur, small round ears, small eyes, and flat scaly tails.
Are Beavers Dangerous?
These rodents don’t typically try and settle into humans’ property. For most people, it’s also unlikely they’ll see one wandering around their backyard.
However, if no secluded, natural alternatives exist, beavers will build habitats from residential trees. Though they’re not usually hostile creatures, they will attack if they feel as if they or their home is threatened.
But their ability to cause property damage is a more significant issue. To build their habitats, they gnaw down entire trees. There’s a good chance that a fallen tree can land in your yard, damaging any nearby flower beds.
Even worse, they can fall onto your home. If they do, your home will suffer enormous damage from the impact — or at the very least, your roof will. Needless to say, this impact can also cause severe physical harm.
Types of Rodents
While these steps/tips will help reduce the likelihood of a rodent issue, there is no guaranteed way to eliminate all risks. Your best bet for getting rid of rodents in North Carolina is to hire a rodent pest control specialist.
Pest Management Systems is a family-owned pest control company, serving locals in North Carolina for years. Our services allow homeowners to remove all types of rodents in North Carolina from their property. Get a quick quote today to get rid of North Carolina rodents in your yard!
