Commensal Rodents - The word commensal means "sharing one's table". This is an appropriate term as rats and mice have been sharing people's food and shelter for many years. And the word rodent means "to gnaw". Like all rodents, rats and mice possess chisel -like incisor teeth which grow continuously throughout their lives. These incisors are kept filed and sharp primarily by the rodents grinding the incisors against one another, and secondarily by the rodents constantly gnawing on various objects. Rats and mice attack our food in the farm fields, orchards, and livestock facilities. In our buildings, rodents damage doors, floors, ceilings and walls as a result of their burrowing and gnawing activity. In addition to the direct economic losses rodents are also expensive to control. Control methods should consist of a complete inspection of building to determine entry ways and placement of bait and/or traps in and around the building and sealing all entry ways. There are three species of commensal rodents which are of the most concern to the home owner and pest management professionals. We have provided you with pictures and text of these rodents to help identify them.