There’s nothing worse than uninvited guests who come to your house —especially when those “guests” are rodents. A rodent infestation can leave you feeling squeamish, with the comfort of your own home invaded. While it can be hard to catch a sight of these creatures, they leave their marks hidden around all of your rooms. The quicker you catch them, the quicker you can get rid of them, so stay vigilant for these five signs of rodent infestation in your own home.
DROPPINGS
If there are suddenly small droppings mysteriously popping up around your house, it’s a tell-tale sign of a rodent infestation. These droppings are likely to be deposited around areas where food is held, in drawers and cupboards, or along rodent runways. Fresh droppings are moist whereas old droppings dry out and crumble easily. Catching sight of these feces in your house is alarming and one of the simplest signs of a rodent infestation.
ODORS
Rodents smell. They urinate on the floors, and rodent urine smells especially terrible, as rodents use it as a method of communication as well. If the smell wasn’t bad enough, some people can develop allergies to the odor. If your house normally smells fresh and suddenly possesses a horrible smell, and especially if members of your household become irrupted by the smell, then that might be a sure sign of a rodent infestation occurring in your house.
CHEW MARKS
Gnaw marks in food packages and other household objects are one of the most obvious signs of a rodent infestation. Hungry animals might take their teeth to the plastic wrappings around snacks and cookies hidden in your cabinets. These markings can help you guess what type of infection your house has —smaller bite sizes are generally from mice whereas larger tooth marks may be from rats. Additionally, the color of the gnaw marks in food can help you determine the freshness of the bites. Newer marks are lighter in color and become darker as they age.
NOISE
Scratching and scampering are two of the most common noises a rodent can make. They make these noises as they shuffle around behind the walls or chew on the wood of your house. Rodents can chew voraciously and make easy work of some of your house’s structure, leaving lasting damage. Any sounds that come from the walls or ceilings are generally a good indication of a rodent infestation. If you discover any tracks or trails around your house and later hear sounds coming from that area, be sure to have the situation checked by your trusted pest control contractor.
NESTS
Rodents like to gather long strips of material to make their nests. Some of these materials might include fabric, shredded paper, or other soft and beddable material. These nests are obvious signs of a rodent infestation in your house. Since these are the areas where the rodents spend the majority of their time, catching sight of one of these nests makes it clear animals are living there. If there are fresh droppings around the nest, you know the rodents have been there recently.
Rodents can be destructive and can pose a serious threat to your health. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, make sure to deal with it quickly and call for help. In the Rio Grande Valley, call Bug off Pest Control Services at 956-782-7378 for reliable and affordable pest control services.