How to Know If You Have a Mouse Infestation

Living with mice can bring in lots of frustration to homeowners. However, most of the homeowners don’t have come across this frustration. From the recent studies, it has been identified that mice is among the most popular household pets throughout the country. Even if the average lifespan of mice is around one year, they can create lots of problems to you. Therefore, you need to have a solid understanding on how to detect a mouse infestation and how to refrain from the hassle created by them at your home.
Here is a list of some of the most prominent signs that indicate you have become a victim of a mouse infestation at home. If you are experiencing these, you need to be aware of the health risks and take appropriate measures to stay away from the frustration caused by them.

1. You can see mice droppings around your home

Fresh mice droppings are moist and dark. If you have become a victim of a mouse infestation, you will be able to see them everywhere around the house. When the mice droppings age, they tend to dry out. That’s where they transform into a gray color. Such mice droppings can easily crumble when touched.

You will be able to locate the mice droppings easily around the food packages, under the sinks, in cupboards or drawers and along the rodent runways. In addition to that, you can find them in many other hidden areas of your house as well. You can see a higher number of droppings in the areas where the rodents have been feeding or nesting. Therefore, you need to keep an eye to see if there are new droppings. If you can see new droppings, you need to understand that you are dealing with an active mice infestation at your home.

2. You will be able to see the gnaw marks

Along with mice droppings, it will be possible for you to see gnaw marks as well. These gnaw marks have a lighter color. However, they tend to change the color into a darker one along with age. You will often be able to discover the gnaw marks on food packaging. Or else, you can find them on the different structures that you have got at home as well.

One of the best methods available for you to detect gnaw marks would be to compare them with another similar material that is old as the same product. The new gnaw marks usually have a light color. It will show that you are dealing with a continuing mice infestation. On the other hand, the gnaw marks will also be able to indicate whether you are having mice or rats at home. For example, if the gnaw marks are large, they have been produced by the bigger teeth that rats have. Therefore, you will be able to get a clear understanding about the extent of the problem that you are dealing with.

3. You can notice a foul odor

People who are dealing with a mice infestation at home will experience a foul odor as well. If you have any dogs or cats at home, they will get excited, especially in the areas where you can discover rodents around the home. This is the main reason why you will have to experience a foul odor.

Mice that you have at home can enter different structures at home. In case if you can see the drawings of your pet around a structure, you should understand that mice have got into the structure. In such a situation, you can simply take a flashlight and move forward with inspection. Along with that, you can detect mice present at home. Along with that, you will have to experience an ongoing smell from the hidden areas. This will be a stale smell. This will help you to understand that you are dealing with an active mice infestation.

4. You can see runways and tracks

Along with a mice infestation, you will be able to see runways and tracks as well. If mice are active in the home, you will notice that their runways are quite distinctive. However, these runways would become fainter along with time. You can easily detect the mice runways with the assistance of a backlight or a flashlight. All you have to do is to hold the light at an angle towards the area of inspection. Along with that, you will be able to see the footprints, smudge marks, droppings, urine stains and footprints as well.

In case if you notice that a specific area in your home is frequently used by rodents, you need to think about keeping a thin layer of baby powder or flour in there. Then you will be able to see their trails on top of baby powder or flour.

5. You can find nests

Last but not least, you will be able to discover the presence of nests along with an active mice infestation at home. Mice will consume materials such as dried plants, fabrics and shredded paper to create these nests. You need to see if there is a possibility to find such things in or around your home. Then you will be dealing with a mice infestation

Final words

Now you have a solid idea about the signs of a mouse infestation. These are some of the obvious signs and you need to pay extra attention to them at all times. Along with that, you can determine the problem that you are dealing with as well. However, you shouldn’t live with the problem and you must take appropriate measures to overcome the hassle created by them. That’s why you need to think about investing your money to get the assistance of a rodent removal company. Then you can get rid of all the rodents that you have around your house in a convenient manner.