The last thing you want to discover in your home is evidence that a rat lives there too. Rats and mice can bring harmful bacteria into your home that can possibly get you and your family members sick. Rodents also can cause damage to your home or property because they are constantly chewing on things. Rodents’ teeth never stop growing so they chew on items like wooden furniture or hard plastics to file down their teeth. They will also shred books and fabrics to use for their nesting materials. There is nothing good about having a mouse in the house. Keeping out a keen eye for evidence of rodents in your home can help you to be ready to act at the first sign to make sure the problem doesn’t get worse. .
Signs of rodents in your home
The top 5 signs of rodents living in your home include:
- Droppings: Rodent droppings are a telltale sign of infestation. Mice droppings are small, about the size of rice grains, while rat droppings are larger and more oblong. Fresh droppings are dark and moist, but they become dry and brittle over time. Places to look for rodent droppings are in the back corner of closets or other places that you do not frequently go. Some mice will run along the baseboards so it is possible to find a small trail of droppings in those places. You can also pull out the oven or refrigerator to see if any droppings have accumulated under your appliances.
- Damage: Rodents constantly gnaw on objects like wires, wood, plastic, and other soft materials like blankets, sheets, yarn and books. If you discover fresh gnaw marks on your wooden furniture, the marks will be lighter in color. Rodents build nests using materials they have chewed up and shredded. Discovering nests in hidden areas, such as behind appliances, in the attic or basement, or in boxes, is a pretty clear sign of a rodent infestation. Though it may not be as costly, you may find damage to food containers and packaging when a mouse discovers how to access the food in your pantry.
- Sounds: Rodents are pretty good at hiding so you may not ever actually see a rodent in your home at first. But when the house is quiet at night, you may hear scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds, because this is when rodents are most active.
- Visible Rodents: Though this may be common sense to say, seeing live rodents or dead ones in your home is a clear sign of an infestation. Rodents are most active at night, so you may need to stay up late or check during the evening to spot them. It is possible that in the evening, you may not realize that a rodent has scurried under your couch and is waiting for a chance to find a better hiding spot. When it thinks it has a good chance, it may come bolting out from under the sofa, to your surprise.
- Odor: Rodent urine has a distinct, unpleasant odor. A strong, musky or musty smell in your home, especially in enclosed spaces like closets or cabinets, could indicate an infestation. You will probably notice the above four signs of rodents before you notice the odor. By the time you actually start smelling the infestation, it could indicate that the rodent population in your home is thriving. But for those who have a hound dog like nose, the odor of rodents may be an early sign of the infestation.
If you see any of the above signs of rodents in your home and you live in or near Salinas, CA, our team at Target Pest Control are ready to eliminate every rodent from your property. Give us a call today.
