A mouse is a small rodent characteristically having a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse, one of the most common unwanted pests in homes.
The house mouse has large ears and is light brown to dark grey, with a lighter colour on its belly. It is often found in urban areas and can cause significant pest problems if not managed early. The deer mouse is brown or grey with a white belly and feet. The white colour on the underside of its tail is an easy way to spot a deer mouse, helping homeowners and technicians manage infestations while ensuring minimal disruption to daily life.
Early intervention is key to preventing a serious pest issue and protecting your property from damage.
Mice will chew and eat through almost anything. They especially love grains and can make their way through a box of cereal or crackers without much effort. They also eat between 15 and 20 times a day and will make their nest near a food source (think your kitchen or pantry). If you’re already seeing signs of activity, it’s often a sign of growing pest problems. Whether you're dealing with rodents, a wasp nest, or even bed bugs, choosing the best pest control service ensures fast, effective solutions for your home. When issues escalate, working with a trusted pest control team gives you the expertise and protection you need to keep your home safe.
Scampering and scratching sounds in the walls of your home at night, signs of gnawing or chewing, or damaged food packages can mean you have an infestation of mice. Other signs include droppings and urine, burrows or holes in and around foundation walls, or tracks on dusty surfaces. While these rodents are among the most common unwanted pests, similar clues can also point to a cockroach infestation or other issues that require prompt attention. Effective pest control—whether commercial pest control for businesses or residential pest control for homeowners—helps identify and eliminate the problem before it gets worse.
Mice can damage property, and while the common house mouse is not as dangerous to your health as a deer mouse, they can still spread diseases such as hantavirus, salmonellosis, and listeria through their urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting materials. These diseases can be deadly, and if you have a major infestation in your home, the risk of catching one increases.
At A1 Pest Solutions Inc., we have a team of expert technicians with the experience to handle any rodent problem safely. Our knowledgeable staff can identify signs of infestation early and implement effective control measures, all while ensuring minimal disruption to your home or business. For reliable Winnipeg pest control, trust our team to keep your property safe and pest-free.
Common household rodents include Norway rats, roof rats, and pack rats. Norway rats have brownish fur, hairless tails, and short, furry ears. Slightly smaller, roof rats are black in colour with dark tails and hairless ears. Pack rats or wood rats average six inches in length with brown or gray fur, hairy tails, and big, furry ears. While species vary in appearance, they are all recognizable by their dark coats, rounded ears, and long tails.
Rats eat pretty much anything you and your family eat – and then some. Rats have super-high metabolisms and insatiable appetites to go with them. In fact, they can eat up to one-third of their body weight every single day. Because of this constant feeding, effective pest control is crucial to prevent contamination and property damage. Many homeowners rely on trusted Winnipeg pest control experts to assess and manage infestations quickly. Professional pest control services ensure the problem is handled safely and thoroughly.
Rat droppings, often addressed during pest control services, are usually found in concentrated areas as rats can produce up to 40 droppings per night. Roof rats are agile climbers and can easily gain access to loft spaces and upper floors of buildings. Hearing scratching noises at night from above may suggest their presence. Norway rats, on the other hand, are less adept climbers. You may hear them scurrying under decking, sheds, and floorboards—situations where residential pest control is often needed. They are more likely to be identified by a grinding noise they make with their teeth, known as bruxing.
Rats leave foot and tail marks in dusty, less-used areas of buildings. Shining a strong flashlight at a low angle should reveal tracks clearly. To establish if an infestation is active, sprinkle fine flour or talc along a small stretch of floor near the footprints and check for fresh tracks the next day—an approach often used by technicians in commercial pest control settings.
Rats use established routes along baseboards and walls due to their poor eyesight. Grease and dirt on their bodies leave smudges and dark marks on surfaces they repeatedly brush against. These marks may indicate rodent activity, but because smears can remain for a long time, they are not a reliable gauge of an active infestation. This is where working with the best pest control service helps ensure accurate identification and fast action.
Rats have teeth that grow continuously and need to gnaw on wood and plastic to keep them trimmed. They have the potential to cause fires by chewing through electrical cables. You may also notice ripped food packaging, as rats tear open food and leave visible teeth marks, clear signs that pest control intervention is required.
Rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded materials such as newspaper and fabric. Nests often contain young rats and are usually located close to a food source. Check behind and under appliances such as fridges and freezers in or near your kitchen.
Norway rats are well known for excavating extensive burrow systems for shelter, food storage, and nesting. Look for burrows in compost heaps, under decking or garden sheds, or in garages.
Personal health and wellness are at stake when rats are present. In addition to rat bite fever and food poisoning, rodents can spread Hantavirus, a serious disease transmitted through breathing infected air or direct contact with rat feces and urine. These unwanted pests can also gnaw on electrical wires and support beams. This not only incurs costly repairs but may create fire hazards or undermine the structural integrity of homes, turning a small rodent sighting into a serious pest issue.
Professional pest control services help manage these risks effectively, addressing common pest problems before they escalate. With experienced teams providing Winnipeg pest control, infestations are handled efficiently and with minimal disruption to your daily life. Trust reliable Winnipeg pest control experts to keep your home safe and pest-free.
Voles, sometimes mistaken for mice, are small burrowing rodents commonly found in Winnipeg yards, gardens, and landscaped areas. While they typically stay outdoors, their tunnelling and feeding habits can quickly contribute to a rodent infestation if not addressed early. Their activity can cause significant damage to lawns, shrubs, and garden beds, making it important to work with a team that delivers quality pest control. A1 Pest Solutions Inc provides effective vole control services to manage these pests and prevent ongoing property damage, offering the reliability you expect from the best pest control service in Winnipeg.
Voles primarily feed on vegetation. Their diet includes:
During winter, they continue feeding under the snow, gnawing on the bark of shrubs and young trees—often causing girdling damage that can kill plants. If you notice chewed stems, gnawed bark near the base of trees, or shallow runways in the grass, it may indicate vole activity. Just like identifying a bed bug issue or locating a hidden wasp nest, proper inspection helps reveal the source of your pest problems. Effective pest control ensures these signs are correctly identified and addressed before the damage becomes severe, and in some cases may include strategically placed bait stations to manage activity around your property.
Common signs of vole activity include:
Just as you would look for a hidden bed bug or a wasp nest, these visible signs indicate vole activity. Timely pest control is essential to prevent further damage and protect your property.
These signs are especially noticeable in spring when snow melts, revealing extensive runways and lawn damage. Because vole activity often overlaps with signs from other common pests, working with a professional Winnipeg pest control service helps ensure accurate identification and effective treatment.
Although voles are not typically a direct threat to human health, their rapid reproduction and destructive feeding habits can cause:
Professional pest control services prevent recurring damage and protect your outdoor spaces year-round. Whether for residential or commercial pest control, A1 Pest Solutions Inc. addresses a wide range of pest problems with safe and effective vole management strategies to restore and protect your property.
We offer several treatment or control options to fit your budget, backed by our fully licensed team and strong professional affiliations that set us apart from other pest control companies.
Please call or e-mail to find out which option will work best for you.
