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Mice, Rats & Squirrels
Mouse example

Ed Freytag, City of New Orleans, Bugwood.org

Mice are small, non-native rodents found in homes and structures.

Mice damaged a wall and left many fecal pellets on floor

Liz Kasameyer, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Ed Freytag, City of New Orleans, Bugwood.org

Mice damage buildings. Their urine and feces are health hazards.

Baited mouse trap against wall

Weston Miller, Oregon State University

Mice

Mus musculus

Mice are small, non-native rodents found in homes and structures. They spread diseases, damage structures (upper right photo), and ruin stored goods.

Take Action Right Away

  • Seal gaps in structures to exclude rodents. Remove food sources.
  • Trapping (lower right photo) and poison baits effectively control mice.
  • Ongoing monitoring and action are required.
Rat in bulding

Ed Freytag, City of New Orleans, Bugwood.org

Ed Freytag, City of New Orleans, Bugwood.org

Hole in building allowing rats access

Liz Kasameyer, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Bugwood.org

Liz Kasameyer, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Bugwood.org

Rat trap set against wall

Weston Miller, Oregon State University

Diagram comparing roof rat and Norway rat features

Rats

Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus

Rats are non-native, invasive rodents found in homes and structures. They spread diseases, damage structures (upper right photo), and ruin stored goods.

Take Action Right Away

  • Seal gaps in structures to exclude rodents. Remove food sources.
  • Trapping (lower right photo) and poison baits effectively kill rats.
  • Ongoing monitoring and action are required.
Eastern fox squirrel

Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

Wire grate covering structure vent

Liz Kasameyer, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Bugwood.org

Squirrels

Native & non-native species in the Pacific Northwest

Both native and non-native, invasive species of squirrels live in the Pacific Northwest. Telling them apart is difficult. Different species have different legal protections that vary by state.

Take Action?

  • If squirrels are nesting in your attic, contact a licensed wildlife control operator to help you identify the species and determine a course of action. Exclude squirrels from getting into structures with metal mesh (upper right photo).
  • Remove food sources for squirrels such as bird feeders (lower right photo).
  • Use wire cages to protect plants or garden beds as needed.
Deer & Elk and Rabbits & Hares
Deer browsing in yard

"Mule deer" by Colby Stopa is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Deer browse plants, eating the tips of a wide range of different plants.

Deer & Elk

Multiple species in the Pacific Northwest

Deer and elk are part of the natural environment. Learn to live with them. Fence them out to protect plants you care about. Choose deer-resistant plants in other areas.

Gophers, Moles & Voles
Goher basket to protect fruit tree

"Image" by Danny Thorpe is licensed under CC BY 2.0

"Image" by Danny Thorpe is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Gophers

18 species in the Pacific Northwest
  • Gophers are native, burrowing rodents.
  • They feed underground on plant roots and tubers. Gophers cut plant stems below the ground to pull the plants into their burrow.
  • Gophers leave mounds of excavated soil in the shape of a crescent (upper right photo).

Take Action?

  • Tolerate gophers if possible. They are part of the natural environment. Birds, snakes, and larger mammals prey on gophers.
  • Use wire barriers to protect roses, fruit, trees, and vegetables from gopher feeding and burrowing (lower right photo).
  • Trapping is the best method to get rid of gophers. Seek professional help as needed.

For More Information
Meadow Voles & Pocket Gophers  (OSU Extension Service)

Mole emerging from mound

"Mole" by Mick E. Talbot is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

"Mole" by Mick E. Talbot is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Moles

Scapanus spp.
  • Moles are small, native, burrowing mammals. They mostly eat insects and worms in the soil.
  • Mole burrowing also undermines plants and encourages weeds to grow on exposed soil areas. Moles create cone-shaped mounds (upper right).
  • About 20% of moles’ diet is plant materials. Their feeding may damage plants.

Take Action?

  • Tolerate moles if possible. They are part of the natural environment. Birds, snakes, and larger mammals prey on moles.
  • Trapping is the best method to get rid of moles. Seek professional help if needed.

For More Information
Controlling Moles  (OSU Extension Service)

Vole tunnels in grass

David L. Clement, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org

David L. Clement, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org

Worker using string trimmer in grassy area

Andrei310, iStock

Plastic cylander protecting fruit tree stem

Weston Miller, Oregon State University

Voles

Several species in the Pacific Northwest
  • Voles are native species of mice. They live in areas with heavy ground cover such as grasses.
  • Voles are rarely a problem indoors.
  • Voles make tunnels in grassy areas as shown in the photo (left).
  • They gnaw on the bark at the base of trees and shrubs. This gnawing damages plants’ cambium (growing tissue).

Take Action?

  • Tolerate voles if possible. They are part of the natural environment. Birds, snakes, and larger mammals prey on voles.
  • Keep lawns and grassy walkways mowed to limit their habitat (upper right photo).
  • Protect new plantings of fruit trees and restoration plants with plastic guards to exclude voles (lower right photo).

For More Information
Meadow Voles & Pocket Gophers  (OSU Extension Service)

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Mice, Rats & Wildlife