After mice or rats have breached your defences and entered your home, you may think you’ve defeated them. But how can you know for sure? There might be droppings in an area you haven’t examined yet, so you might still have an infestation. This is why it’s important to look for signs of an infestation, such as the following:

1. You See Rodent Droppings

Mouse and rat droppings are smaller than most people expect. Mouse droppings are only about 1/4 inch long and about 1/8 inch wide, while rat droppings can be up to 1/2 inch long and about the same width.

Rats and mice also leave behind other evidence that can be obvious or hard to see. While rats are often nocturnal, you might find evidence of rodent activity during the daylight hours. Look for chewed holes in plastic, paper, cardboard and wood. They can leave behind fur, food waste and evidence of nests.

2. You See Evidence of Nesting

If you spot piles of shredded paper or fabric, you may have a mice or rat infestation. Rats and mice will shred anything they can get their teeth on to create nesting material.

This might include insulation from your attic or walls, and you might even find rodent nesting material in storage containers.

3. You See Gnaw Marks on Furniture or Fixtures

There are many signs of rodent infestations in your home, and gnawing is one of the most obvious. Rodents will chew holes in wood and other materials to build nests, create burrows and get food.

Look for gnaw marks on walls, baseboards and stairs. They might appear in various places, depending on where rodents have nested or simply where they’ve searched for food.

4. You See Their Tracks

You might spot dirty footprints in areas you haven’t cleaned in some time. These tracks and prints often show up less than an inch long and an inch wide.

You might also see rodent droppings and burrows in wall voids and other hidden areas. Track down their burrows, and you might be able to confirm that you have a mouse or rat infestation.

5. You See Evidence of Rodent Activity in Your Basement

A great deal of evidence of rodent activity can be found in the basement. Rats and mice will gnaw on almost any material they can find as they search for food and build nests.

You’ll find holes in wood and other materials and chewed insulation. You’ll find piles of rodent nesting material and even evidence of urine and droppings.

Something else to look for is the gnaw marks on plastic and rubber hoses and plastic and rubber items.

6. You’re Getting a Bad Smell

Rodents can leave a strong smell behind them, and it gets worse as the infestation grows. The smell is caused by their urine and scent marking, and their faeces can also stink.

You might smell urine in cabinets or pantries, or other places. You might also smell the scent marking from their glands and the stench from the decomposing rodent corpses.

Conclusion

Identifying the signs of a mice or rat infestation is not always easy. Rats and mice might not be living in the area you’re cleaning, and they may not have been there in days, weeks or months.

But if you find proper evidence, you may determine that it’s time to call in a pest control professional. And remember, it might not be the only sign that you have rats or mice in your home.

Benchmark Pest Solutions’ innovative pest control service guarantees to get rid of your insect problems, just like how our protection services make sure your home is always protected. Finding pests in your home is a nightmare! We assist you and your family in regaining a sense of safety and comfort in your home by listening to your concerns and recommending the best available solution. If you need pest control services on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve got you covered. Call us at 0477 55 44 85 now to book an appointment!