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Rodents
New York City is home to one of the largest populations of rodents in the United States. These pests are notorious for invading homes and neighborhoods, causing damage to property, contaminating food, and spreading diseases.
Common pest species found in New York:
House Mouse
Mus musculus
Mice cause all sorts of trouble, such as gnawing on walls and furniture, chewing electrical wires, and contaminating food.
They are typically come out at night in search of food and water. Although they’ll eat just about anything, they especially love grains, fruits, seeds, and pet food that’s been left out overnight.
Signs of a house mouse infestation include droppings, scratching noises, musky odors, gnaw marks, and runways (dirty, greasy smudges from their fur rubbing against floors and baseboards).
Size: 5–8 inches long (13–20 cm) from its nose to the tip of its tail; about the length of a dollar bill
Color: Grayish-brown fur and a gray tail
Shape: Small, round body (3–4 inches long) with a similar tail length (2–4 inches)
Head: Slightly pointed nose, small eyes, and rounded ears
Teeth: Long, protruding front teeth with a notch on the inner surface of the upper incisors
Fur: Small, round body with short fur that’s uniformly grayish-brown; some individuals may have a light grey or cream-colored belly
Tail: Gray or light brown (similar to its fur); mostly hairless and covered in tiny circular rows of scales
Norway Rat
Rattus norvegicus
Norway rats, colloquially known as “brown rats” or “sewer rats,” are known to infest buildings, damage property, contaminate food, and spread disease.
Over the centuries, their diets and behaviors have evolved alongside modern human society, allowing them to thrive in dense, urban environments like New York City (which is home to 2 million rats, according to a statistical study in 2014).
Size: 10–20 inches long (25–51 cm) from its nose to the tip of its tail; about the length of a bowling pin
Color: Brown or dark gray fur with pink ears and a pink tail
Shape: Long, stout body (6–11 inches long) with a similar tail length (4–10 inches long)
Head: Blunt nose and small, pink ears
Teeth: Large, chisel-shaped incisors that leave prominent teeth marks on objects and surfaces
Fur: Long, stout body with coarse and bristly fur that’s mostly brown or grey, except for a tan or light gray underbelly
Tail: Pink or tan-colored; mostly hairless and covered in tiny circular rows of scales