Rodents are relatively small, prolific mammals. All rodents have a pair of front teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives; they must gnaw on food (or other objects) to grind these teeth down. The name Rodentia is derived from the Latin word "rodere", which means, "to gnaw".

Most rodents are herbivores (plant-eaters). Some rodents, like the house mouse, are omnivores (eating plants and animals). A few rodents, like the Australian water rat, are carnivores (meat-eaters). There are about 2,000 different species of rodents alive today. The biggest rodent is the Capybara, which is almost 4.5 feet (1.3 m) long. The smallest rodent is the Pygmy jerboa, whose body is just over less than two inches (47 mm) long.

The capybara, hydrochaeris, is the biggest rodent in the world. This semi-aquatic rodent lives in swamps, in marshes, and also in forests (near ponds, lakes and rivers). Capybaras gather near the water in groups of about 20 animals, they spend a lot of time wallowing in mud. These social animals communicate using whistles and bark and also produce glandular scents.

Threats from rodents

Property Damage – House Fires: Rodents can cause significant property damage with their incessant gnawing behavior. The rodent's front teeth grow perpetually and, as a result, it must constantly gnaw on surfaces to wear its teeth down. When inside a home, the rodents are known to gnaw on electrical wiring - a significant cause of house fires - as well as PVC pipes and HVAC ducts.

Rat Bites: Not only do rodents chew, they also bite! A rodent bite can pass strep bacteria to its victim, but often the bite itself is a critical event. Small children and infants are most often victims of the rodent's bite as documented in recent newspaper articles where infants have suffered the loss of toes or even died as a result of rat bites.

It is our duty to control pest like Rodents before they cause considerable damage. Following are some prevention tips:

· Store all accessible food in rodent-proof containers such as glass or metal

· Place trash in tightly covered metal cans to prevent smells from escaping or potential rodent entry.

· Check faucets to make sure they are functioning properly and to fix leaks as they occur, since gaps or holes around pipes can serve as easy entry points for rodents.