Indications of Rodent Infestation
As the weather begins to get colder during the winter and fall season, rodents are starting to move inside properties looking for food, warmth, and shelter. For those who don’t know, rodents are accountable for thousands of dollars in property damage every year. The most common culprits are mice and rats. They can also present a major health threat to you and your loved ones.
Rodents are sneaky pests. They can fit through small holes to get inside your property and food sources. Luckily, they will sometimes leave evidence of their activities. If you know the signs, you can easily look out for them. Once you find these signs, you can hire a Boise pest control company to get rid of them.
Here are a couple of indications to look for when it comes to rodent infestation:
Nest
Discovering a nest for rodents is a sure indication of an infestation, whether it is former or present. Oftentimes, these nests are made of fabric, plastic, packing materials, cardboard, and whatever other cast-off materials the rodent can find.
Noticing Them
Seeing and hearing rodents in the house during the day is another sign. The number of rodents inside your property has probably grown to a point that they forage for food during the day if you see them moving around during broad daylight. Also, you might hear scuffling or scratching noises in your ceiling or walls.
Foul Odor
If you notice a sour or stinky odor coming from some hidden area in your house, then it might be coming from rodent feces and urine. Your pets might notice this change before you do. Thus, you might want to investigate if you begin to see your dog or cat act strangely about a previously normal area in your house.
Droppings
Rodent droppings are typically around 1/8 to ¼ inches long. These droppings are dry when old. When fresh, the droppings are moist.
Gnaw Marks
You might also see gnaw marks on your household items, such as boxes and food containers if your home is infested with rodents.
Where Do Rodents Hide?
Rodents are excellent when it comes to hiding. That is why homeowners do not often see infesting rodents. They typically stay in hard-to-reach and dark areas. Rodents can also sneak inside sheds, pantries, garages, basements, attics, walls, pipes, and vents since they can fit through tiny holes. Basically, the prime area for rodents to create nests is any place in your house where food is present. This is particularly true if that place isn’t typically disturbed by human movement. You can begin putting traps in strategic areas if you do not know where exactly a rodent can be hiding. A couple of these areas might include:
- Around your basement or attic
- Inside the pantry
- Near the opening of a vent
- Along a rodent runway
You can utilize various traps to remove rodents. Some of these traps can kill them. However, there are also other traps that won’t kill them. This will allow you to remove them humanely from your house.
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