Several species of rodents are frequent pests in the environment of  Southern California. They include the common House Mouse, the Roof Rat, the Norway Rat. The major culprits are the Roof rat and House mouse.

The trouble with rodents:

Most people would agree that rodents have limited value. Most rodents (Norway rats, Roof rats and common House mice) live off humans without returning anything of worth. Rodent infestations - and the serious problems they cause - CAN be controlled.

Rodents cause numerous problems:

•Spread serious diseases, including salmonellosis (food poisoning), plague, leptospirosis, rickettsial pox and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM).
•Consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world's food supply.
•Carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, which potentially spread diseases, into buildings.
•Gnaw, causing expensive structural damage. They also can start fires if they gnaw on electrical wires.
•Rodents cause a great deal of anxiety for occupants of infested building.