Three Early Signs That Your Home Has a Rodent Problem
The challenge of making your home a comfortable and safe place for you to live in is that these efforts can also make it a comfortable and safe place for pests. Just like you, rodents want somewhere warm where they can feast on the best grocery store cereal money can buy.
However, by the time you actually see a mouse, it will likely have been in your house for some time . The sooner you notice signs of an infestation , the easier it will be to banish them and prevent damage—both to your home and to your mental well-being). The earliest signs of rodent infestation may not be noticeable, so here are three things to look out for.
Characteristic sounds and smells
Some of the earliest (and easiest to miss) signs of rodents in your home involve your five senses. “Rodents are excellent at staying out of sight, so early detection is critical to preventing a full-blown infestation,” says Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist and vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association . Droppings, gnawing marks and other visual signs may provide clues, but he cautions you to be mindful of your nose. “Musky smells in enclosed spaces can signal the presence of rodents or rodent nests,” he explains. The odor is caused by the accumulation of urine and droppings in closed, hidden areas of your home.
Trust your ears too. According to Aaron Carlson, district manager for Trutech Wildlife Services , the most common rodents are rats, mice and squirrels, and they are louder than you think. “The first thing homeowners usually notice is noise associated with movement or gnawing,” 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 would suggest,” Fredericks adds. And since rodents’ teeth never stop growing, pests have to grind them down by chewing. Any hard surface with little give, such as wood or plastic, is a target.
Your pets are acting strange
If you have cats or dogs in your home, changes in their behavior may be an early sign that rodents have entered the home without your permission. “Dogs or cats will notice it faster than you,” says Allan Bossell, pest control expert at Bed Bug Exterminator . “They may react with excitement. If your pet becomes very wary and restless, he may sense rodents in the house. One sign to look out for is when your pets start scratching the walls or obsessively sniffing certain areas in the house.”
“Cats will sit and stare at the wall or ceiling (also near the stove or refrigerator in the kitchen), especially in the evening,” notes Michelle Nagelschneider, founder and cat behaviorist at The Cat Behavior Clinic . “Cats have ‘bionic’ hearing and can hear mice ‘giggle’ in the walls.”
Don’t be too confident that your cat or dog will sense mice: Carlson warns that while your pets can give advance warning, they’re not entirely reliable. “Animals often completely ignore even obvious rodent sounds,” he says.
Suspicious stains and debris
Besides sound, smell, and pets, there are easy-to-overlook visual signs of rodents in your life, such as unexplained trash around your home.
“These could be gnawed pieces of paper or fabric that could indicate rodent nesting behavior,” Bossel said. While gnawing marks on food containers may be an obvious sign, gnawing marks in other areas may not be noticeable. “Other places where chew marks may be visible are your furniture (especially the legs of wood pieces), wires, storage drawers and baseboards.” You may also see small piles of shelled seeds or husks around your house.
Something subtle to look out for: marks on walls and baseboards. “Rats and mice will explore the house for food and travel the same routes,” Carlson notes. “Stains on baseboards are a sign of rodent activity. Body oil and oil from their fur will leave marks on the walls.”
If you suspect rodents have invaded your home , the sooner you contact a professional pest control specialist, the better. “Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to deal with rodent problems,” Fredericks says. “Rodents reproduce quickly—one pair of mice can produce dozens of offspring in just a few months—so delaying action could lead to a more widespread infestation that is more difficult and costly to control.”