Three early signs that your home has a rodent infestation
The challenge of turning your home into a comfortable, safe space where you feel good is that these efforts can also make it a comfortable, safe place for pests. Rodents, like you, want a warm place to feast on the best grocery store cereal your money can buy.
Until you actually see However, they probably have a mouse was already at your house for a while. The sooner you notice the signs an infestationthe easier it is to get rid of them and prevent damage – both to your home and to your psychological well-being. The first signs that rodents are invading can be subtle. Here are three things to watch out for.
Telltale sounds and smells
Some of the earliest – and easiest to miss – signs of rodents in your home involve your five senses. “Rodents are great at staying out of sight, so early detection is critical to preventing a full-scale infestation,” says Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist and vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Control Associationemphasized. Feces, gnaw marks and other visual signs provide clues, but he warns you not to forget your nose. “A musky smell in enclosed spaces can indicate the presence of rodents or their nests,” he explains. The smell comes from the accumulation of urine and feces in enclosed, hidden areas of your home.
Trust your ears too. According to Aaron Carlson, district manager at Trutech Wildlife ServiceThe most common rodent infestations are rats, mice and squirrels, and they are louder than you think. “The first thing homeowners notice is noise associated with movement or nibbling,” he says. “Rats, mice and squirrels have tiny claws that scratch wood as they move.”
“Mice can make a lot more noise than their small size suggests,” Fredericks adds. And because rodents’ teeth never stop growing, the pests have to wear them down by chewing. Any hard surface with some give, like wood or plastic, is a target.
Your pets are acting strangely
If you have cats or dogs in the house, changes in behavior can be an early sign that rodents have moved in without your permission. “Dogs or cats will notice it quicker than you,” notes Allan Bossel, pest expert at Bed bug exterminator. “They could react with unrest. If your pet becomes very alert and restless, he may sense rodents in the house. One sign to look out for is if your pets start scratching on walls or compulsively sniffing around certain areas of the house.”
“Cats sit and stare at the wall or ceiling (including near the stove or refrigerator in the kitchen), especially in the evening,” notes Mieshelle Nagelschneider, founder and cat behaviorist at The Cat Behavior Clinic. “Cats have a ‘bionic’ sense of hearing and can hear mice ‘giggle’ in the walls.”
Don’t be overconfident that your cat or dog will sense mice: Carlson warns against this while your pets could provide an early warning, they are not entirely reliable. “Animals often completely ignore even obvious rodent noises,” he says.
Suspicious stains and deposits
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Aside from noises, smells, and your pets, there are easy-to-miss visual signs that rodents are creeping into your life, such as unexplained trash around the house.
“This can also include gnawed pieces of paper or fabric, which could indicate the nesting behavior of rodents,” notes Bossel. While rodent marks on food containers can be an obvious sign, rodent marks elsewhere can be missed. “Other places where rodent marks might be visible include your furniture (particularly the feet of pieces of wood), wires, storage boxes, and baseboards.” You may also see small piles of shelled seeds or shells outside the home.
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Something subtle to look out for: stains on walls and baseboards. “Rats and mice explore a house in search of food, following the same paths,” Carlson notes. “Stains along baseboards are a sign of rodent movement. The body oils and grease from their fur leave abrasion marks on the walls.”
If you suspect rodents have invadedThe sooner you contact a professional pest controller, the better. “Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to manage rodent problems,” says Fredericks. “Rodents reproduce quickly – a pair of mice can produce dozens of offspring in just a few months – so delaying action can lead to a larger infestation that is more difficult and costly to control.”