Droppings on the floor, bite marks on fruits and gnaw marks on containers are some of the signs that you will need to look out for to determine whether rats and mice live in your house. Rats and mice can contaminate food, spreading disease and cause extensive damages to roof insulation, books, wires, electrical appliances, furniture and everything in between. They will chew away anything that gets in-between their teeth!
Habit and Habitats of Rats and Mice:
Mice and rats will live in safe and dry places that are close to food and water supply. That’s why we usually find rats and mice in ceilings and walls. These habitats protect them from their predators and facilitate nesting. Some rats live in storage areas like sheds, composite piles, and wood piles that offer space to nest and sleep undisturbed.
Signs of Rats and Mice Infestations:
Droppings
Droppings that look like black pellets are strong indicators that you have rodents in your home. If you find droppings in different sizes, then it indicates the presence of different sized rats and mice. While mice droppings are about 1-2 cm long in brown/black colour, the rat droppings look similar but are usually larger.
Odour
Another sign that you may notice is a very distinct, musky, pungent odour throughout your house. When rodents invade a home, they leave droppings and urine all over the nest site. So, if you smell the bad odour in your home, a nearby rodent nest or a dead rodent could be the source.
Gnawed Holes
Mice tend to leave small holes with clean-cut edges in containers whereas rats leave bigger holes with rougher edges. So, if you find nibble marks on furniture, boxes, containers, papers, and other items around your house, most likely your house is infested by rats or mice.
Pet Behaviour
Pets like cats and dogs get disturbed when they smell or hear rodents in your home. If you notice that your pet pays extra attention to any specific area of your home that they had no interest in before, this might be a sign that they have seen, smelt or heard a rodent in your home.
Noises
Rats and mice are nocturnal, meaning that they are active at night. If you hear a scratching noise from your ceiling, roof, yard, shed or garage during night times, it indicates that you have mice or rats in your home. Sometimes, you may even spot them scurrying across the floor if you are up late.
How to Deal with Rodent Infestation?
If you see one mouse or rat, you may have more than one. There are several things you could attempt such as using traps or baiting. With trapping, you will need to seal any potential entry points.
Hire a Pest Control Expert:
If you are not sure which type of rodent has infested your property, you can call the experts at Positive Pest Solutions for professional help. The experts will conduct a thorough pest inspection of your property and look for signs to determine the type of pest invaded your home. Based on the findings, the pest control experts implement the right rodent control techniques to make your home or business pest-free.
