Rodents and mice are a major problem for American homeowners. In fact, almost 30 percent of homes have rodents lurking in their walls or nesting indoors.
Unfortunately, those infestations can be serious issues for both your house and your health. The sooner you can deal with a mouse infestation, the better off you’ll be, but you need to know what to look for.
Remember, rats and mice aren’t always easy to spot inside your house. They actively avoid humans and take care to sneak around when you’re not around.
Here are a few telltale signs of a mouse problem to watch for throughout the year.
1. There Are Mouse Droppings on the Floor
One of the clearest signs of a rodent problem is noticing droppings on the floor. Mouse droppings are typically small and oval in shape and tend to appear in kitchens, bathrooms, and in drawers.
If you think you might have an infestation, walk around each room of your house. Look for small droppings along the base of the walls. If you notice any, call an exterminator immediately.
You’ll want to be careful when picking up those droppings, too. Wear a face mask and gloves anytime you’re handling the droppings. Small particles can go airborne and, when they do, they increase your risk of contracting certain diseases.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the droppings. This can help your exterminator determine which type of rodent you have in your home.
2. You Have Holes in the Walls or Backs of Cabinets
Mice and rats both gnaw their way into your home. This is how they create easy access points for gathering food and retreating back to the safety of their nests.
If you notice dust collecting around a certain point in the room or along the backs of some of your wooden furniture, pay attention. There could be rodents nesting inside.
The size of the hole will depend on the size of the rodent. Smaller mice will create smaller holes while rats and larger mice will gnaw larger holes. Regardless of the size, don’t try to handle the infestation on your own.
Make a note of the location of each hole and let your exterminator know. They’ll make sure those spots get inspected.
Once the rodents are gone, you’ll be able to repair the damage for good.
3. You Hear Strange Noises in the Walls
According to the best Eagle pest control experts, it’s rare for mice to spend their time in the open spaces in your home. Instead, they tend to move around in the walls.
Though they’re small, they still make noise inside the walls as they move around and build their nests.
Pay attention to the sounds you hear in each room. If you notice scratching or scampering noises in the walls, you likely have a mouse infestation in your home.
Keep in mind that these noises should sound different than the ones you’re used to hearing as your house settles or water moves through the pipes.
4. The Pets Keep Acting Strange
Pets are often the first ones to notice rodents in your home. Start paying attention to their behavior.
Are they frequently returning to a single corner of a room? Do they act like they’re hearing noises in the walls even when you can’t hear anything?
If they seem to be acting strange, consider scheduling an inspection with your exterminator as soon as possible. If you can catch one or two mice before others have a chance to join in, you’ll be able to prevent a full-scale rodent infestation.
5. There’s a Strange Smell in Some Rooms
Rodents aren’t always dirty, but they can leave behind strange smells in your rooms. It’s not the rodents themselves that smell bad. It’s their urine.
Give each room the sniff test.
If the space smells musty, air it out for an hour or two and see if the smell returns. If it does, you likely have rodents nesting somewhere in your home.
For stronger, rotten odors, it’s best to call an exterminator immediately. Dead rodents will need to get removed quickly before they can attract additional pests and insects to your home.
6. The Furniture Looks Gnawed On
Mice love to chew things. It’s not just about gaining access to nesting areas or getting food. It’s also part of their regular oral health efforts.
Their teeth continue to grow as they age and the only way to keep them from getting too long is to chew on wood, plastic, and anything hard enough to file their teeth down.
Take a look around the base of your furniture, the baseboards, and even the food containers in your pantry. If you notice gnaw marks along the surface, it’s likely because you have mice in your home.
More frequent or extensive gnaw marks are often indicative of a larger mouse population and should signal that it’s time to call a pest control expert.
7. Your Allergies Are Worse
If you suffer from allergies, you know the most common triggers that impact your health. Start paying attention to your flare-ups. If your allergies are getting worse for seemingly no reason, it could be a result of a mouse problem in your home.
Keep in mind that there could be other issues contributing to your allergies. However, scheduling an inspection will help you narrow down the cause.
Watch for These Signs of a Mouse Infestation
Mice and rodents can do serious damage to your home if allowed to nest in your walls. Watch for these common signs of mice in your home and you’ll be able to keep your home in good shape.
If you think you have a mouse infestation in your home, don’t wait. Take action immediately and schedule an inspection with your trusted pest control expert.
The sooner you get your home inspected, the better off you’ll be.
Looking for more tips to help you keep your home in good shape? Check out our latest posts.
