Winter is a time when mice move out of the fields and wilderness and into homes. Knowing the signs of a mouse infestation can help you know when it is time to get help. The following five signs are an indication of mice. Homeowners who notice this problem can manage their infestation by contacting a pest control professional.
1. Mouse Droppings
Mice can defecate a lot in a day, so people who have mice problems will find droppings all over their house, often in a straight line. Mice spend most of their time in locations that are hidden or sheltered from people, so you’ll find most mouse droppings in hidden spaces. Look behind doors, under sinks, in cabinets, under the fridge, and behind furniture.
You will be able to tell where mice spend the most time in your home by the concentration of droppings. Places where mice spend a lot of time will have a lot of droppings. Mouse droppings are shaped like grains of rice. Larger pieces could be rat droppings, so pay attention to the size when trying to determine whether you have mice.
Mouse droppings can take a long time to biodegrade, so if you have recently found mouse droppings in a part of your home where people do not normally spend time, this could be left over from an old infestation. Mouse feces found in a cabinet that gets used frequently is much more troubling, so consider the location when trying to determine if you have an infestation.
2. Mysterious Noises
Mice may be small, but they can make big noises, especially at night. If you have a mouse problem in your house, you will likely hear a range of noises at night. Chewing, scampering, and scuttling are all sounds that people hear when they have mice in their home. Sometimes, these noises can be heard behind walls and in the ceiling.
In some cases, mice can make noises that sound much bigger than they really are. A mouse chewing through a wall, for example, can make a very loud noise indeed. It is important to remember that the volume of noise is not directly proportional to the size of the animal. But please remember that not all noises in walls are related to rodents.
3. Sightings
Mice are most active when their enemies are not, so in a house where people live, mice are active in the middle of the night. A mouse that is seen during the daytime could be an outdoor mouse that has found its way inside. Mice are cryptobiotic, that means that they live and move in secret. They move from shadowed/protected area to shadowed/protected area.
Watch for mice along the edges of rooms. They can often be seen running from one sheltered spot to another. Mice can run very quickly, so you will have to look fast if you want to catch a glimpse.
4. Holes in the Wall
Mice have large front teeth that can chew through wall material like wood, plaster, and drywall. As these pests settle into your home, they will take advantage of gaps and/or holes which are already present or start to make entry points by damaging walls. If you have mice, you may start to notice holes in the walls just above the trim. Look for holes that are small and subtle.
5. Holes in Food Packages
Mice will eat through cardboard and plastic to get to a food source, so holes chewed through food packages could be an indication of a mouse problem. If you believe that your home has mice, put all of your food into plastic tubs to keep it safe.
Contact a Reputable Pest Control Company for More Information
At A-Alert Exterminating Service Inc, we are happy to answer customer questions about mice and other pests. To find out more about the signs of a mouse infestation, contact our reputable pest control company for information.