How much do you know about Canada’s booming rodent population? Sure, you may be able to tell your mice from your squirrels and your chipmunks from your rats, but it’s highly likely that you don’t know as much about Canadian rodents as you should.
In today’s article, we’re going to shed some light on the most common rodents in Canada. We’ll discuss some of their habits and what winter means for them. More importantly, we’ll explain why they’ll be trying to get inside your home this season. Your North York home could quickly require our humane wildlife prevention services if you’re not careful.
You’ll be glad to hear that you won’t be assigned any homework today. But the more you know about these rodents, the better. If you ignore rodents and any obvious signs of infestation, they’ll be making themselves right at home, bringing their filth, disease, and mess with them. Let’s have a look at what you need to know.
Canada’s Most Common Rodents
Squirrels
Did you know that there are more than 20 different types of squirrels in Canada? These include flying squirrels, ground squirrels, and tree squirrels. Tree squirrels remain active throughout the winter, but the majority of other squirrels choose to hibernate instead.
During the fall they’ll be busy bulking up and hiding food stocks around your yard and home. If they can, they’ll stash some food inside your home, hoping to cozy up there for winter instead. With shelter, heat and a food source, they’ll be more than happy to build their nest inside your home.
Chipmunks
Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family, and they’re easily mistaken for ground squirrels. They are however easy to identify thanks to the stripes on the back of their heads. As well as having these marks, chipmunks are noticeably smaller than ground squirrels with rounded ears.
They also hibernate, and will normally enter a deep sleep during the coldest months of the year. Like squirrels, chipmunks will hide food stores to get them through the season. Your home will be the warmest, safest place for them to pass the winter.
Mice
Mice need little introduction as they’re one of the most common rodents in Canada. Deer mice and house mice are particularly common with small bodies, long tails and round, oversized ears. These rodents do not hibernate during the winter, although their activity does slow down.
Mice also stand little chance of surviving the harsh Canadian winters in the wild. They’ll look to make nests in place of shelter and warmth. And, as you’ve guessed, there aren’t many places better for their nest than your North York home.
The B-Team
But these are just the rodent celebrities! There are plenty more Canadian rodents that will be looking to get inside your home this winter. Voles, also known as field mice, aren’t known to hibernate either. They won’t be sneaking inside your home, but the deep burrows they live in cause damage to your yard.
Pocket gophers also avoid hibernation by using their sharp, curved claws to burrow even deeper into your yard.
No matter which rodents you’re concerned about in the North York area, give Skedaddle a call for effective, humane protection. We know rodents better than anybody else in Canada and our talented team can help you identify them in your home and on your property. When it comes to humane wildlife prevention, we use a range of treatments that are proven to last for years to come.