Rat and Mouse Articles
Practical reading for Wichita homes: how to tell what you have, where rodents get in, which traps work and what to do about smells, noises and droppings.
How to Get Rid of Rats in Wichita
Wichita rats are Norway rats that burrow near the house. Getting rid of them means taking away food and cover, trapping along their runways and sealing the gaps they use.
Rat Droppings: How to Identify Them and What to Do
Rat droppings are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with blunt ends. Here is how to tell them from mouse droppings, judge whether they are fresh and clean them up safely.
Mouse Droppings: What They Look Like and How to Clean Them Up
Mouse droppings are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, like a grain of rice with pointed ends. Here is how to identify them, read what they mean and clean them up without sweeping.
Mice in the Walls: How to Tell and How to Get Them Out
Light scratching and scurrying inside walls at night usually means mice. They get in where pipes and wires pass through, and they come out to feed. Trap at those exits, then seal.
Rats in the Attic? What Is Really Up There in a Wichita Home
Roof rats are not the usual Wichita problem. Attic noises here are more often mice or squirrels, though Norway rats can climb up. Here is how to tell and what to do.
Rats and Mice in the Garage and Car Engine
Garages hold seed, pet food and quiet corners, and parked cars offer warm engines and wiring to chew. Here is how to spot trouble, clean up safely and keep rodents out.
Rodent Noises at Night: What You Are Hearing and Where
Light scratching at night usually means mice. Heavier thumps point to rats. Daytime running in the attic is usually squirrels. Here is how to tell what you are hearing.
The Best Rat and Mouse Traps and How to Use Them
Snap traps sized for the animal, set along walls with the bait end touching the wall, are what the CDC recommends. Here is how to choose and place them.
Do Rodent Repellents Work? Peppermint, Ultrasonic and More
Repellents may make a spot less pleasant for a while, but none reliably keep mice or rats out. Removing food, trapping and sealing gaps work better.
How Small a Hole Can a Mouse Fit Through?
The CDC says mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, about 1/4 inch. Rats need about 1/2 inch. Here is where those gaps hide in Wichita homes.
Steel Wool vs. Copper Mesh for Sealing Mouse Holes
Both work for small gaps when packed tight and sealed in place. Steel wool is cheap and fine indoors. Copper mesh lasts longer outdoors and in damp spots.
Dead Rodent Smell: How to Find It and Get Rid of It
The smell builds over a few days and can last weeks. Follow the smell and flies, check the usual spots, remove the rodent safely and fix whatever let it in.
Rodent Diseases in Kansas: Hantavirus, Leptospirosis and Rat-Bite Fever
Hantavirus is present in Kansas but rare, with 0 to 2 cases a year. Leptospirosis and rat-bite fever also come from rodents. Safe cleanup and quick medical care are the main defenses.
Why Rats and Mice Come Back After the Exterminator
Rodents come back when the gaps stay open, food stays available or the source next door is untouched. Bait-only service is the most common culprit.
Seasonal Rodent Problems in Wichita: A Year-Round Guide
Fall brings field mice in from the harvest. Winter keeps them in garages and walls. Spring brings burrows and nests. Summer is the time to seal. Here is what to do each season.
Need the local rules instead?
The Wichita guides cover reporting a problem property, tenant and landlord duties, trash and yard rules, restaurant inspections, costs and pest control licensing in Kansas.