What Are the Top 10 Signs of a Rodent Infestation?
April 19, 2023
Mice may seem cute and cuddly when they’re outside or in a cage at the pet store, but when they’re terrorizing your home, it’s a different story. Nobody wants mice scurrying around their home.
If you have mice or rats in your home, you need to act quickly. They can quickly reproduce, causing more and more mice to infiltrate your home and cause disease and destruction.
The good news is that there are many ways to tell that you have rodents living in your home. Here are the top 10 signs that you need to call a pest control professional for a rodent infestation.
- Droppings
Droppings are a tell-tale sign that you have mice and rats in your home. Rodents leave droppings in areas where they are active, such as in cupboards and other parts of the kitchen. Look for small, dark droppings that resemble small grains of rice. The more droppings you see, the more mice you have.
- Holes and Gnaw Marks
Rodents have strong teeth that are always growing, so they have to constantly gnaw on things to keep them filed down. Rats will chew on parts of your home, including wood and even wires, which can lead to structural and electrical issues. They may chew through dressers, desks, and even your clothes in order to make nests and reproduce. You may also find chewed-up cardboard and plastic throughout your home.
- Urine Odor
Mice and rats urinate often, so your home may smell like urine. Rodent urine has a strong odor that is similar to the smell of ammonia. This smell is noticeable when these rodents have taken up residence in your home. This smell gets stale and worsens over time. The smell of urine is often the strongest indication of their presence.
- Grease Marks
Rodents have glands that produce oil. This oil keeps their fur in good condition. It also leaves marks all over the home. You may find grease marks on walls and other surfaces.
- Nests
Another sign of rodents is nests. Rodents will search out dark, warm places in your home such as closets and behind appliances to build a nest and have babies. This is the last thing you want, so if you see paper, cardboard, or fabric being used as a nest, call a pest control professional right away.
- Tracks and Runways
Look for footprints and tail marks in dusty areas or places with a layer of debris. You may also see clear paths in your home. These are runways that the mice use to look for food and building materials. You will notice oily marks and nibbles around the runways. You will typically find these runways along walls, ledges, building foundations, pipes, and electrical wires.
- Chewed Wires
As mentioned above, rodents love to chew. This chewing may be done on electrical wires, which can lead to fire hazards and electrical outages. So if you notice issues with your electricity, and it’s not your power company, mice and rats may be to blame.
- Food Damage
Rodents are in your home looking for food and they will eat just about anything. They will look in cabinets and pantries for something yummy and will even chew open packaging to get what they want.
- Unusual Pet Behavior
If you have rodents in your home, your pets may know before you do. Dogs and cats have a sixth sense when it comes to mice and other animals that don’t belong in the home. You may notice them acting a little differently. They may become more alert and even start meowing, barking, or pawing at areas where rodents are living.
- Sightings
This is probably the most obvious sign of a rodent infestation, but it’s not always common. Mice are nocturnal, so they typically only come out at night. However, they may become bold and step away from their hiding spot during the day. If you do see one during the day, that’s usually not a good sign. It typically means there are a lot more hiding nearby.
Contact Us Today
Rodents are unwanted pests that can cause a wide range of issues to a home as well as the people who live in it. Call a professional and get these creatures out of your home right away.
Get rodents out of your house now with help from The PEST Group. Our experienced team will give you peace of mind. We serve California, Hawaii, and Florida. Schedule a free inspection today by calling 888-801-3220