A rat or mice infestation is the last thing that any homeowner wants to encounter. It’s easy to become paranoid about having an unwanted rodent when you hear an unexplained noise or notice an unexplained smell. To help determine if you actually have a rodent problem, this guide details signs for how to tell if you have mice or rats infesting your house along with ways to get rid of the pest infestation.
Featured Partner
1
Terminix
BBB Rating
A
States Serviced
45
Effectiveness Guarantee
Yes
7 Signs of a Rat or Mouse Infestation
If you suspect rats or mice are hiding out in your home, the following signs of a rodent infestation will help you out.
1. You Notice Rodent Droppings
An obvious sign of a rodent invasion is the presence of their droppings. Rat and mouse droppings are dark and moist, but they become dry and gray over time. Even if you find mouse droppings but no mouse, one of the critters is almost certainly nearby. Droppings are likely to be found near food sources, so check in kitchen cabinets, pantries and under furniture.
2. You Smell a Foul Odor
Looking for signs of mice, but can’t find any droppings? Smelling an unexpected foul odor could be an indicator of a rodent infestation. The rodent’s urine is what will trigger your nose and smell like stale ammonia. This smell might not be as noticeable if you only have one or two mice in your home, but it certainly will stand out if you have an active infestation. Additionally, you could notice the smell of a dead mouse—a strong sour odor that will linger for days, even weeks.
3. You See Gnawed Holes or Bite Marks
Rodents will chew through cardboard boxes, drywall and other materials in pursuit of food. If you see any holes in your walls or food packaging that mimic bite marks, that is a pretty good sign that a mouse or rat is nearby. The larger the bite mark, the larger the rodent you can expect to find.
4. You Find Rodent Nests
Rodents will make nests out of paper, fabric or organic matter found throughout your house. If you see a pile of these items all placed together, a rodent has likely made itself a home. You may see bite marks on the nesting material or find droppings within the pile of debris.
5. You Hear Scratching or Scampering
Since mice and rats tend to move around your house at nighttime, you may never actually hear the little invaders. But if you do hear any scampering in your hallways or scratching on your walls, a mouse or rat could be to blame. These critters can even burry within your walls, so you could hear scurrying from inside them.
6. You Notice Rodent Runways
Rodents tend to use the same paths throughout your home over and over to move from one place to another. You may be able to detect their footprints if there is any dust or dirt that marks their tracks. If you think you have located a rodent runway, put down some flour and you will likely see footprint marks the next day.
7. Your Pets Are Acting Differently
If you have a cat or a dog, they will notice you have a mouse or rat visitor much before you do, but unfortunately, they have no way of informing you. Your pet will quickly notice a new smell or be able to hear the rodent’s movement throughout the house. If you notice unusual behavior from your pet, such as excessive barking or interest in a particular area, begin searching around for signs of a rat or mouse.
Best Pest Control Companies By Cities
What to Do If You Have Signs of Mice or Rats
If you notice one or more of these signs of an infestation, it is important you get rid of the pests immediately. Rodents can spread diseases and cause significant damage to your home. Use any or a combination of the following methods to get rid of your rodent infestation.
- Seal up entry points into your home. Mice can enter a home through a hole as small as one fourth of an inch. Walk around the exterior of your home and seal up any holes that mice or rats could be using as entry points.
- Set rodent traps. Mouse and rat traps are your best bets for removing rodents already in your home. Bait the traps with food like cheese or peanut butter, and place them throughout your home, out of the way of pets and children. Regularly check the traps and dispose of any caught rodents.
- Clean up trash and debris. Rodents will make nests in trash and debris around your home. Clean up areas like basements and attics and remove any piles of trash you accumulate along the way.
- Call a pest control company. While DIY pest control may work for some rodent infestations, it might not always be effective. For those extra pesky pests, call a professional pest control company. A rodent removal expert will use a few different remediation methods to ensure your pest problem is a thing of the past.
