If you live in Michigan, especially in cities like Grand Rapids, Lansing, or Ann Arbor, you know that sharing your space with wildlife comes with the territory. Some of it, like deer wandering through your yard or birds at your feeder, can be charming.
But when those visitors have four legs, twitchy noses, and a habit of getting into your basement or crawl spaces, it’s time to talk about pest control.
Let’s walk through the most common types of rodents found in Michigan, how to tell them apart, and where you’re most likely to run into trouble.
Key Takeaways
- House mice and deer mice often enter homes and carry risks like fast infestations or disease from droppings.
- Norway rats dig near homes and return often when they find food like garbage, pet food, or scraps.
- Voles, chipmunks, muskrats, and beavers live outdoors and cause damage to lawns, structures, trees, and water systems.
- Pest Pros of Michigan helps homeowners in places like Lansing stop rodents from damaging homes and crawl spaces.
House Mice
House mice are one of the most common rodents to get into Michigan homes. Their small size makes it easy for them to sneak through tiny openings in siding or around utility lines. Once inside, they build nests in quiet areas—think behind appliances, inside walls, or in crawl spaces.
If you find gnawed food packages or rice-sized droppings, you likely have house mice. And because they reproduce quickly, what starts as a small problem can become a full-blown rodent infestation in a matter of weeks.
Deer Mice
Deer mice are more of a concern in rural areas or homes near fields and wooded spaces. They’re easy to recognize with their white underbellies and big eyes.
Unlike other types of mice, they are less likely to live year-round inside your home. Instead, they use outbuildings, garages, or basements to escape the cold.
The biggest concern with deer mice is what they leave behind. They’re known carriers of hantavirus, which spreads through their droppings and urine. If you’re cleaning up after them, it’s important to take proper precautions.
Norway Rats
If you’ve seen a thick, brown rodent dart across your garage floor, it was likely a Norway rat, also known as a brown rat. These rats are excellent diggers, often making their burrows along foundations, under sheds, or near woodpiles.
In cities like Detroit or Livonia, they thrive in alleys and under decks where food sources are plentiful. They often find their way into basements and crawl spaces, where they cause damage and contamination.
Once they’ve found pet food or unsecured garbage, they’ll keep coming back.
Voles
Voles may not come inside, but they’re a major nuisance in the yard. These short-tailed rodents chew through plant roots, girdle trees, and leave runways across your lawn.
Homeowners often confuse them with moles, but voles don’t dig deep tunnels. Instead, they stay close to the surface and cause visible yard damage. Their presence also attracts scavengers like raccoons and coyotes looking for a quick meal.
Chipmunks
Chipmunks may seem cute, but their tunneling under steps and patios can cause serious damage. These striped rodents often build extensive burrow systems around patios, sidewalks, and foundations. Over time, their digging can cause structural damage.
They’re also known to hoard food sources, especially near homes with bird feeders or spilled pet food outside.
Muskrats
Common around Michigan’s many lakes and wetlands, muskrats burrow into banks and drainage ditches. Their tunneling can cause erosion and undermine retaining walls.
If your property backs up to water or you live near the Great Lakes, muskrat damage is something to look out for, especially in spring and fall when they’re most active.
Beavers
Beavers are the largest rodents in North America and are often found near streams and lakes. They’re not indoor pests, but they can cause big outdoor problems. Their dams can flood yards, damage trees, and alter the natural flow of water.
If you’ve got signs of beaver activity near your Michigan property, it’s best to act quickly before they reshape your landscape.
Woodchucks
Also known as groundhogs, they can be a real problem for Michigan homeowners. Woodchucks dig large burrows under decks, sheds, or even concrete slabs. These burrows not only cause damage but also invite fleas and other parasites.
They’re scavengers too, often raiding vegetable gardens or compost bins.
Need Rodent Control in Michigan? We’ve Got You Covered
Rodent problems in Michigan are damaging and potentially dangerous. Whether it’s house mice chewing wires in your Ann Arbor attic or a colony of Norway rats nesting near your Lansing garage, rodent infestations require fast, expert attention.
At Pest Pros of Michigan, we specialize in rodent identification, control, and prevention. Our Home Pro Premium Plan includes service for mice and rats, and every visit includes a thorough inspection of basements, woodpiles, crawl spaces, and other high-risk areas.
Don’t let rodents turn your home into theirs. We’ll help you stay a step ahead, with treatments backed by a lifetime warranty, without exception.
Reach out today and let us help you take back your space.
