Since the 1940s, one pair of playful and mischievous animals has delighted children's television screens across America; Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse, better known simply as "Tom and Jerry," While it would be great if real-life rodents were more like Jerry, unfortunately, wild ones are not playful, cause way more damage, and take a lot more effort to get rid of.

Rodents are small mammals with a single pair of incisor teeth that never stop growing. They require constant gnawing and chewing to keep their teeth ground down to a manageable size. Their teeth are so strong that they can even chew through concrete. Because of this, it is estimated that they are responsible for up to 20% of undetermined house fires.

Belonging to the class Rodentia, rodents make up approximately 40% of mammals. They can be found in nests of ten or twenty and sometimes in the hundreds. The numbers can grow into the thousands if a place has enough food and water and no natural predation or control. Typically distinguished by their size, there are many species of both, with the most common in Illinois being the brown rat, the house mouse, and the deer mouse.

Mice and rats breed very quickly, reaching sexual maturity in less than two months and having a gestation period of just under one month. Once an infestation begins, you may end up with a permanent rodent family reunion inside your walls or attic. Mice and rats are opportunistic eaters, although they primarily feed on seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, garbage, and sewage.  Some species, like the brown rat, enjoy protein-rich insects and, with their propensity for climbing, have been known to get into nests to feed on eggs and even smaller rodents. The vermin usually live around a year in the wild. In large numbers, they have been known to cause significant food destruction, not only eating large quantities but also contaminating whatever they touch. Their droppings are known for transmitting several diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis.

They can make their nests in a wide range of habitats, but in the winter, they tend to make their way inside human structures. From businesses to warehouses to stores and houses, these diggers and chewers don't need much space to get inside. Once in, they begin the search for shelter, food, and water. Before long, they can turn your house into their personal crash pads, eventually turning you into Tom, chasing many little Jerry's around your home. However, these Jerrys won't have you giggling.

Luckily for Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Grayslake, and the surrounding areas, Westshore Pest Control has everything you need to eliminate unwanted invaders. With plenty of services to choose from and years of experience in the field, contact Westshore Pest Control to make your home pest-free. If you've had damage done to your home and want to be free of the rodents causing your headaches, contact us today for a free estimate and to see what we can do for you.