You’ve been hearing a lot of scratching sounds around your home lately and your cat seems to be fixated on the source. These are two large signs that you’re dealing with a rodent infestation in your Clearwater home.
You’re not seeing any mice or rats yet so you’re not sure if it’s come to an infestation yet and it may not have. They are crafty though. They don’t always show themselves but they do leave behind obvious signs that they’re there.
To help you find the little pests and be rid of them, keep reading for all the signs that you have an infestation.
1. Chew Marks
Rodents, no matter the size have one thing in common. They like to chew and they’re not discriminatory on what they knaw on.
If you’ve got an infestation on your hands one of the first things that you will notice is chew marks on your baseboards. They could chew through your wires which isn’t only annoying. It’s a fire hazard.
If you take everything out of your cabinets you may see chew marks in the back of them as well. If you look hard enough you’ll probably even see entry points where they are getting in.
2. Bad Odor
When a bunch of rodents comes together you will notice a musky smell throughout your home. This smell is most likely mouse urine that’s been allowed to sit for a bit.
Musky pee smell is the best-case scenario. If a rodent dies somewhere in your home then you’ll smell a rotting odor. If you find the dead rodent, call someone out to deal with your problem.
If you want to be able to do away with the smell as soon as you can then you can remove the dead mouse but make sure that you wear gloves.
3. Weird Pet Behavior
If your cat or dog seems fixated by one spot in your wall and keeps scratching at it then They’re trying to be good little helpers and get rid of your infestation problem for you.
If your pet is showing this sort of behavior document it. Any information that you can give an exterminator when they come out is good information.
4. Droppings
Other than chew marks, the first thing that you may notice around your home is rodent droppings. If you’ve got mice, their droppings are about 1/4 inches long and are dark brown and pointed.
Rats leave much larger droppings around 3/4 inches or 1/2 inches. The shape of the droppings can vary from rat to rat.
You can pick up the droppings yourself when you notice them especially if they pop up in a place like the cabinets where you keep your dishes. Make sure that you wear gloves and a mask when you do though.
5. Tracks
Rodents tend to run around your home at night in search of food when everything is dark and quiet. This means that you’ll be able to see little rodent tracks from where they have been.
If you suspect you may have an infestation check dusty areas of your home. You’ll see their little footprints in the dust. If you follow the footprints back to their source you may be able to find their entry points and deal with them.
6. Holes
You will start noticing little mouse holes. Mice and rats will chew through thin layers of your walls to create entryways so they travel around the house.
You may also start to notice holes in other things too such as sweaters and any boxes you have laying around. Rodents make little nests and they need materials in which to do it.
7. Allergies
Are your allergies going crazy all of a sudden? If you’re allergic to any kind of pet fur or dander then rodents may be the explanation. We will say, that this is a sign that you may overlook.
Most people are allergic to more than pet fur. If you have regular seasonal allergies to plants and pollen, you may blame that instead of your infestation.
8. Grease Marks
Your pet’s fur will get a little greasy when you haven’t bathed them in a while. The same thing happens with rodents. Their fur gets gross and greasy. They rub their fur on things as they run past and leave grease trails behind.
You will notice a thin sheen of grease in any of the areas where they run. The most common place will be your baseboards.
You can determine how bad your infestation is by cleaning the grease marks away. If they keep coming back after a short amount of time then it’s bad.
9. Noises
Rats are nocturnal beings so you’ll hear little scratching sounds at night when you’re trying to sleep. If you wonder into rooms during the night you may even spot one foraging for food or running along the walls.
The main places where you’ll hear these knawing, squeaking, scratching sounds is in your walls, attic, and ceiling.
Do You Have a Rodent Infestation on Your Hands?
If you’re hearing scratching noises and smelling a terrible odor, it’s not something that you should ignore. It could be a sign that you have a rodent infestation in your Clearwater home.
Look for these signs so you can spot your problem and get the situation under control right away. Don’t let your house become a home for unwanted guests.
Need help with evicting your unwanted housemates. We may be able to help you with rodent control. Contact us to request our services.