Signs You Have a Rodent Infestation

Seeing a rat or mouse in your property is often a bad sign you already have an infestation. Not only are rodents gross, they are also carriers of disease and can cause property damage.

There are three main species that commonly infest homes and businesses: house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats. Rodent infestations are a threat throughout the entire year, which is why it’s important to know how to look for the signs:

Common signs of rats and mice

Rodents aren’t exactly subtle creatures, making it easy to discover when you have an infestation. Some of the typical clues that you have a rodent problem include:

1. Gnaw marks: Tiny holes or gnaw marks on food packaging is a sign you have rats and mice feasting on your food.
2. Nests or nesting materials: Rats and mice will chew up and shred paper or other materials in your home to create nests.
3. Droppings: The most obvious sign, rodent droppings have a foul odor and potentially hazardous.
4. Odors: A stale smell that you can’t explain or foul odor from droppings and urine are big indicators of an active infestation.
5. Strange noises: Hearing scratching or gnawing noises inside your walls could indicate rats or mice.
6. Burrows or tunnels: Check under boards, in the doghouse, weedy spots and near garbage cans for signs of burrows, which means rats and mice may be tunneling into your home.
7. Runways or tracks: One test to see if you have rodents is to place talcum powder along countertops and baseboards to see if you notice their prints.

Stopping rodent infestations

Because rats and mice breed rapidly, it’s extremely important to catch an infestation in its early stages. Mice can begin reproducing at two months in age, making their rate of reproduction higher than most pests. When they infest homes, they can move in fast and spread easily, causing a lot of damage in the process. Before you know it, you could have hordes of rodents invading your space. For these reasons, it’s crucial to know how to look for the signs you have rats or mice.

Enlisting professional help for rodents

Sticky traps and poisonous products simply aren’t always effective in eliminating an entire population of rodents. As soon as you notice the above signs of rats or mice, it’s time to call a professional. The experts at Springer will thoroughly inspect your home for rodents and work with you to come up with a safe and effective treatment plan. Contact us today to learn more!