According to studies, rodents invade 21 million American homes each winter. And 37% of U.S. citizens claim to have spotted a rodent in their home in the past 12 months!
It makes your skin crawl, doesn’t it?
Rodents are a major problem. They can carry diseases, cause allergies, and damage your home’s structure.
Want to know if you have a rodent infestation? Keep reading to find out what the 7 major warning signs are!
1. Gnaw Marks on Wood or Other Material
One common sign that’s often overlooked is gnawing marks. Rats and mice have sharp front teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives.
They must chew constantly on things like wood or food packaging material to keep those teeth from growing too long and causing discomfort.
Look for these tell-tale gnaw marks wherever rodents might be seeking shelter inside your home or business.
2. Droppings
Droppings are another common sign of a rodent infestation. This is especially true in warehouses and public buildings where large populations have been known to take up residence.
These droppings typically resemble grains of rice, coffee grounds, or black pepper, though the size will vary depending on the species that left them behind. You may find a dozen or more droppings in a small area if you spot them regularly over time.
3. Dead Mice
It’s important to be alert for signs of dead mice as well as live ones. A mouse will sometimes crawl into an inaccessible crack between walls or under floorboards to die when it becomes sick or injured.
When you come across a dead rodent, it will be stiff and dry with its paws drawn up to its stomach.
This is why it’s important not to try removing the mouse yourself if you spot one in your home—you might pose an increased health risk to others by transferring bacteria from the corpse of a sickly mouse on your hands.
4. Urine Stains
Don’t forget the rodents’ urine. One major indicator that rats or mice are living in or around your home is dark, greasy-looking stains left on surfaces where they’ve been climbing.
These stains can sometimes resemble watermarks more than anything else, but when dried out they’re shiny instead of matte like spilled water would be.
Rodents urinate more frequently than you might think, so people often discover urine stains on their counters or kitchen cabinets with no idea how they got there.
5. Urine Odor or “Rat-Tails”
A strong odor is another warning sign that your home may be infested with rodents. The ammonia in rodent urine gives off a very distinct scent that can be quite unpleasant for humans to pick up on.
This is especially true if the rodents are confined to one area of the building—it’s not uncommon for even an untrained nose to detect this particular musky stench throughout most of the house.
Also, it’s important to check for signs of fur matted into drafty corners of rooms by rodent tails.
Rats’ tails are around 6 inches long when fully grown, so they can easily get caught in drafts coming through windows or doorways if they’re sleeping under your house or someplace similar.
If you see an excessive amount of fur clogging up vents or other areas where air circulates, it could be a sign that rodents have been gathering there regularly. This is the time to call a rodent control company, like Pest Extinct.
6. Sounds at Night
Rats and mice are active mostly at night. So unusual noises coming from your walls during those hours are also an indicator that they’re living somewhere nearby.
Noises like running, scratching, and gnawing are often audible even with the television on or people talking in the next room.
7. Roof or Chimney Damage
Look for any evidence of roof or chimney damage. Holes, missing bricks, and other disruptions to the structure are all signs of a possible rodent infestation.
Rodents can’t chew through solid materials very easily, so it’s common for them to gnaw holes in roofs when looking for entry points into your home.
They often try to find access through the chimney as well due to its location on an outside wall. If you notice any of these changes in your home, don’t delay!
A mouse infestation isn’t something that goes away quickly on its own—get in touch with pest control experts immediately if you suspect rodents might be living in your area.
Rodent Prevention Tips for Your Business
Rodent control requires effort from the whole team. A proven way to eliminate the chances of an infestation is by removing food, water, and shelter, and removing any access points the rodents can use to get into your building.
- Block any gaps or holes in your building with rodent-resistant materials
- Eliminate food and water sources
- Keep garbage outside of the property
- Ensure the area remains clean at all time
- Make sure to properly sanitize the area at all times
Rodents are very sneaky. Therefore, you need to have your eyes peeled at all times for these rodent problems and make sure you’re doing every in your power to get rid of rodents.
Want More Help With Your Rodent Infestation?
A rodent infestation is a serious issue in many homes. It’s important to know how to identify the signs of rodents if you want to protect your family from these pests. To do this, we recommend following this guide.
Rodents are both disgusting and destructive, not to mention dangerous. We hope these 7 major warning signs help make your life easier by preventing an invasion before it happens.
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