Size is the most obvious difference. Mice are small, typically two to four inches long with thin tails. Rats are much larger at six to nine inches with thick, scaly tails. They also behave differently, which affects how you control them.
Ticks live in shady, humid areas with leaf litter, tall grass, overgrown edges, and low-growing vegetation where they can wait for a host to brush past.
Can I still have ticks if I'm not near a wooded area?
Yes. Ticks don't need a forest. They can establish themselves in any yard that offers shade, moisture, ground cover, and wildlife hosts passing through.
Mulch beds don't attract ticks directly. But once ticks find their way to mulch piles, they are perfect places to live because they are shaded and retain moisture.
Why is it supposed to be a bad tick season this year?
The early winter was mild, then the snow cover gave ticks insulation through the worst winter cold. At the same time, wildlife host populations remained strong and tick ranges, in general, have been expanding.
