Oh, Rats! Do You Have Rodents In Your House?
Throughout the fall and winter seasons, it is very common to catch sight of mice and rats in your home. Why? Well, these little creatures are trying to find somewhere warm to hide out as well as some food, and what better place than your home? You may be wondering how these unwanted visitors got into your home in the first place, but it only takes a hole as little as a dime for them to get into your home! If you are worried you have a rodent infestation, here are a few signs to look for.
Droppings
Droppings, which are small brown pellets, are left behind by by the mice where you have tend to have food stored such as the pantry or cabinets. You may also find droppings underneath sinks, along baseboards, and inside cardboard boxes that have been chewed by the rodents.
Gnaw Marks
Rodents can often result in damage to your property because they have the ability to chew through virtually any type of material—even lead plumbing pipes. They do this in an attempt to gain access to water or food. Some rodents will chew on wires behind interior walls, which increases the risk of a household fire.
Strange Noises
Have you been hearing weird noises, especially at night and in the walls of your home? If so, it may startling your kids—and maybe even you. However, chances are that the sounds are coming from a family of rodents moving around in the house, in the walls, in the attic, etc. Rodents love dark, secluded areas where they can build their nests, and they love to move about at night when no one is in their way.
Nests
Speaking of nests, rodents' nests will be located in dark, secluded areas where there is little no chance of being disturbed by humans. House mice, in particular, prefer to build their nests out of packing materials, cotton, shredded paper products, wall insulation, as well as fabric. So, if you catch sight of a nest made out of these materials, you definitely have a rodent in your home.
A Rodent!
Mice are one of those animals that breed rapidly, so if you spot one, then there is a very good chance that there are more in the house. Believe it or not, a female mouse has five to six mice per litter on average, and has five to 10 litters annually.
If you notice the aforementioned signs of rodents in your home, contact a rodent control professional in your area.
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