Rodent Pest Species

Pest Library Rodent Pest Species. Our Pest Library section is designed to help you get more information about the pests which you may be encountering and what is the best course of action to take.

Rodents are the largest group of mammals in the world, with over 2700 species dotted around the planet. However, only fourteen such species can be found in the UK. These include squirrels, dormice, and voles, along with rats and mice. Rodents are distinguished from other mammals by their characteristic teeth, which continuously grow throughout their lives. As a result, they are compelled to gnaw on wood and other relatively hard substances to keep their teeth in check. The name “rodent” actually refers to this gnawing behaviour, as it comes from the Latin word “rodere”, meaning to gnaw.

Unfortunately, while there are only a small number of rodents in the UK, they can still cause huge problems for humans. They breed incredibly quickly and can easily make their way inside buildings through even the smallest of gaps. Once inside they pose major health and safety risks since they often carry a number of harmful diseases. What’s more, their gnawing habits mean they can cause a lot of damage to timbers in properties, leading in some cases to severe structural damage that can be highly costly to repair.

Rodent Pest Species- Pest Guides

Most of the time, people will immediately panic when they see a rodent pest and assume it is a rat. However, if you know what you are dealing with, then you may well find that the pest in question is only a mouse, which presents less of a threat to humans. To provide you with some extra peace of mind in the event of a rodent pest infestation, we have put together the following species guides with some useful information about each creature. Click below to learn more about the behaviour of these animals, and the best methods of pest control for each one: