10 Common Types of Rodents in Iowa

Iowa’s wide-open landscapes, wooded areas, and changing seasons make it the ideal home for many types of rodents. From bustling cities like Des Moines and Ames to rural farms and backyard gardens, these critters often cause property damage and even pose health risks.

While some stay outdoors, others, like the house mouse and Norway rat, seek warmth and food sources indoors, especially as temperatures drop. Recognizing which rodents are active around your home is the first step to preventing infestations.

Let’s take a closer look at 10 common types of rodents in Iowa and how to keep them out for good.

Key Takeaways

• Iowa hosts a wide range of common rodents, including voles, squirrels, chipmunks, and several species of mice and rats.
  
  
• Many rodents, such as the Norway rat and house mouse, actively seek out homes for warmth and easy food sources.
  
  
• Outdoor rodents like groundhogs, ground squirrels, and muskrats can damage lawns, and burrows can weaken foundations.
  
  
• Professional pest control services like Miller Pest & Termite can help identify, manage, and prevent rodent infestations.

1. House Mouse

The house mouse is one of the most common rodents in Iowa. Small, gray or brown, and highly adaptable, house mice easily sneak into homes and other buildings year-round. They contaminate food sources and leave droppings behind, posing significant health risks.

Look out for gnaw marks on wood, electrical wires, and plastic. Mice build nests in attics, walls, and basements where they remain active through Iowa winters.

2. Norway Rat

The Norway rat is a robust, burrowing rodent that thrives in both urban and suburban environments, particularly around Des Moines and Ames. They dig extensive burrows near foundations, patios, and sheds.

Norway rats gnaw through property and wiring, which can lead to fires. Their droppings and urine also carry diseases that pose serious risks.

3. Deer Mouse

The deer mouse is most common in Iowa’s rural areas, fields, and woodlands. Its brown back and white underside make it easy to distinguish from the house mouse. Deer mice can carry hantavirus, a potentially deadly disease.

Deer mice often enter homes looking for food or shelter, especially during cold weather. They nest in attics, garages, and wall voids, leaving behind contaminated nesting material.

4. Meadow Vole

The meadow vole, a type of short-tailed vole, is active year-round in Iowa. It thrives in grasslands, gardens, and meadows where its burrowing damages lawns, plant roots, and crops.

Look for runways in the grass and small entrance holes to burrows. Meadow voles are often confused with mice, but have thicker bodies and shorter tails.

5. Prairie Vole

Prairie voles are another common vole species in Iowa’s grasslands and agricultural areas. Their extensive burrow systems can damage plant roots and create unsightly patches in lawns and gardens.

While prairie voles generally stay outdoors, they can become a nuisance when populations explode during favorable seasons.

6. Eastern Chipmunk

The eastern chipmunk may look cute, but its burrows can cause real problems. These rodents dig near patios, foundations, and garden beds, sometimes causing damage to structures.

Eastern chipmunks store food underground and remain active except during deep winter when they enter light hibernation. Their burrows can attract predators like weasels, foxes, and skunks.

7. Ground Squirrel

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are common rodents in Iowa. They prefer open spaces like golf courses and suburban lawns where they dig burrows.

Ground squirrels can cause extensive lawn damage and attract natural predators such as coyotes, bobcats, gray foxes, and red foxes. While they generally stay outdoors, their burrows can undermine patios and sidewalks.

8. Groundhog (Woodchuck)

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are large burrowing rodents commonly found throughout Iowa. They prefer wooded edges, fields, and gardens, but sometimes burrow near homes.

Groundhog burrows can cause serious structural damage if dug under foundations, decks, or sheds. They are most active from spring through fall and enter deep hibernation during winter.

9. Fox Squirrel and Gray Squirrel

Both the fox squirrel and gray squirrel are frequent visitors to Iowa woodlands and neighborhoods. These agile climbers often enter attics or chimneys to nest.

Squirrels can damage insulation, wood, and electrical wires. They also leave droppings that contaminate spaces. Flying squirrels and red squirrels are also present in Iowa and sometimes invade homes.

10. Muskrat

Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents that inhabit Iowa’s ponds, streams, and wetlands. Their burrows can damage pond banks, irrigation systems, and water control structures.

While muskrats do not usually enter homes, they can cause major issues for property owners managing aquatic landscapes. Their burrows also attract predators like raccoons, skunks, and even red foxes.

Other Common Iowa Rodents and Wildlife to Watch For

In addition to the 10 species above, Iowa is also home to several other rodents and small mammals that can cause problems around your home and yard:

• White-footed mouse: Found in wooded areas and homes, especially in fall.
  
  
• Red-backed vole and woodland vole: Common in forested areas.
  
  
• Jumping mouse: Known for its leaping ability, often found in grassy areas.
  
  
• Grasshopper mouse and western harvest mouse: Found in prairies and fields.
  
  
• Pocket gopher: Causes extensive damage with underground burrows.
  
  
• Short-tailed shrew and eastern mole: Both tunnel through soil, causing lawn damage.
  
  
• Porcupine: Occasionally seen in wooded areas of northern Iowa.
  
  
• Cottontail rabbit and jackrabbit: Not rodents but often grouped with them due to similar behaviors.
  
  
• Weasel, raccoon, skunk, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, red fox, white-tailed deer, hoary bat, and flying squirrel: Other Iowa wildlife that may frequent yards and wooded areas.
  
  

Iowa shares many of its rodent species with neighboring states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, so homeowners moving between these regions should stay vigilant.

How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home and Yard

Rodents in Iowa are persistent, adaptable, and often destructive. From Norway rats in basements to groundhogs undermining your shed, it takes a proactive approach to keep them in check.

At Miller Pest & Termite, we specialize in helping homeowners throughout Iowa prevent and manage rodent problems. Our team knows exactly how to identify the species causing trouble, locate burrows and nests, and apply proven treatments to protect your home.

Whether you are seeing droppings in the attic, spotting burrows near the garden, or just want peace of mind, give us a call. We will take care of the rodents so you do not have to.