Learning About Natural Pest Control

Three Signs Of A Rodent Infestation

8 March 2018 by Norah Slieker

Mice and rats are one of the most common household pests that you may experience, but also one of the most dangerous, since they can carry diseases with them and can get into your food while also causing a great deal of structural damage to your home that can be expensive and complex to fix. Understanding what some of the earliest warning signs are of a rodent infestation in your home can help you identify the problem early so that you can contact a residential rodent inspection specialist before their presence can cause serious complications within your household.

Droppings

One of the first signs of a rat or mouse population within your home that can be fairly hard to notice is the presence of droppings. Rodent droppings are small, darkly colored balls that will usually pile up in out of the way areas where they will tend to search for food, like alone your baseboards and in your cupboards. These pellets can be a serious health concern, and can even cause degradation to the surfaces within your home. You should avoid touching droppings directly, and contact a pest control specialist for cleanup, since they can pile up quite quickly depending on the size of your rodent problem.

Track Marks

Another sign of a rodent problem within your home that is a little easier to take note of are track marks. Track marks are the stains that rats and mice will leave on the surfaces that they rub up against as they scurry about your home, leaving black streaks on your walls, cupboards, and other areas. Think of them like highways: they mark the direction that rodents are moving within your home, which means that you can likely follow them back to nests or points of entry within your home.

Noises at Night

Both rats and mice are nocturnal animals, which means that you will rarely see them moving around your home. However, if you listen carefully at night, you may be able to hear sounds of movement, gnawing, chewing, or other activities as they explore the interior of your home. Any sounds like these point to your need to call an exterminator as soon as possible, and they will grow louder and more intense with larger populations. Keep in mind that these noises can come from in your ceiling, walls, or floors, as rodents are capable and adept at getting into the spaces between individual rooms and making their nests there.

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