Common Signs of Rat & Mice Infestation in Your Home
Mice and rats have been a nuisance to people since the dawn of civilization. These rodents are opportunists and survivalists; they recognize our homes as providing great shelter and plentiful food, and they'll stop at nothing to get in and multiply. When you have rodents as unwanted houseguests, they'll spread contamination throughout the property and cause damage to house infrastructure like wiring and ductwork.
One of the most troubling things about rats and mice is that they're stealthy enough to live right under your roof without you realizing it for a long time. Continue reading to learn how you can recognize common signs of rats or mice in your Raleigh home so that you can get rid of the pests as soon as possible.
5 Ways to Tell If You Have Mice or Rats in Your Home
Gnawing Damage: A common sign of a rodent presence in your Raleigh home is discovering materials that appear to have been gnawed on. The incisors of mice and rats never stop growing, forcing these critters to continuously gnaw on hard objects to file down their teeth. Over time, these gnawing behaviors will become visible through damage to wood, drywall, pipes, furniture, and whatever else mice and rats manage to clamp their little teeth on. If you find gnawing damage inside, it's a certainty that there are rodents within your walls.
Droppings: Another certain indicator of mice or rats in your home is finding their droppings lying around. As gross as it is to find the feces of rodents scattered through your property, it can also be helpful. Not only does this alert you to a rodent infestation, it can help determine if you have a large number of rodents and whether you have rats or mice. While both mice and rats leave behind oblong droppings, rat droppings are much larger than mouse droppings - up to ¾ inch, where mouse droppings are rarely bigger than ¼ inch.
Nests: To keep themselves warm and sheltered within your home, both mice and rats will piece together nests. Often, rodent mothers will create these nests in order to safely raise new babies, so finding them could be a sign that a rodent infestation is growing in your home in Raleigh. Materials that mice and rats use to build their nests include sticks, straw, insulation, fabric, paper, cardboard, and drywall. Discovery of a nest can help you determine what rodent species you're up against; rat nests tend to be larger and include more hard materials than mouse nests.
Smudge Marks: Both rats and mice have greasy fur that will stain any surfaces that they rub up against repeatedly. This will eventually result in the appearance of rodent smudge marks on baseboards and walls. If you notice a new dark spot on a baseboard or the low part of a wall, it's likely this is a smudge mark created by rodents moving through this area frequently. Upon finding one smudge mark, inspect for more, since these marks can help you determine where rodents are most active on your property and may help you locate their entry points.
Unpleasant Smells: A mice or rat infestation is likely to create foul odors in your Raleigh home. The more rodents you have, the worse the smell will get. In fact, many homeowners are first alerted to a rodent presence by their noses. Common smells associated with rodents include a musty odor and a pungent ammonia smell created by rodent urine. If a mouse or rat dies in your walls, it will create an even more revolting stench as it decomposes.
Raleigh's Most Reliable Rodent Exterminators
Once you've seen the signs of mice or rats living in your home, it's important to call a professional who can completely get rid of the rodents. Contact Sustainable Pest Systems today if you're in need of reliable rodent control services in the greater Raleigh area!