Signs of Mice
A mouse infestation can be quite well established before you start seeing signs of mice. The most obvious sign of mice is literally seeing live mice in your kitchen, or other rooms in the house. Mice will keep close to the walls and skirting when they are travelling, and if the mouse infestation is advanced you may start to see what are known as ‘rodent pathways’ – grease marks on wood or an obvious trail that rodents have been following.
All rodents chew as it helps to keep their teeth healthy. Mice, rats and squirrels will literally chew anything and everything; plastic, wood and even metal. Rodent chew marks in cardboard boxes, wooden cupboards and electrical wiring is a very common sign of mice. If the chew marks are large then it may be a sign of rats.
Mice and rats will chew food packaging as well, as they are always foraging for food. Chewed cereal boxes, crisp packets and biscuit wrappers are all common signs of a rat or mouse infestation. If you find signs of chewed food packaging, or there are marks where mice have been eating your food, then it best to throw the food away, wash the area thoroughly and wash your hands. Rats and mice carry diseases that can be fatal to humans, or cause serious illness.
Seeing droppings is another very obvious sign of rodents. Mouse droppings in cupboards means that there is a mouse infestation, and the mice are active, often at night. Rat droppings will also be found in your house, as rats will travel around your home in search of food. Squirrels are more likely to stay in the attic or roof space, so if you are finding rodent droppings in the rooms of your house and cupboards, it is going to be mice or rats.
Often hearing noises is a common sign of rats and mice. You may hear something moving in the cavity wall at night. This is a very obvious sign of mice or a rat infestation. Mice and rats are more active at night, so if you hear noises in your roof during the day it may be birds or squirrels.
Sometimes there will be noises in your kitchen cupboards. If you hear rustling or scratching in your cupboards, especially in the kitchen, then there is something moving. Generally, something moving in your cupboards means that there is something alive in there. The obvious source of the movement will be rats or mice.
If you hear rats or mice, they will generally leave you alone. The best possible solution is to contact a reputable, local pest control company. A good pest control company will have rat or mouse pest control services, or a rat and mouse extermination program. This will be much quicker and more effective than trying to get rid of mice and rats yourself. A good pest control service will also provide advice for rodent prevention or rodent proofing, to help you stop rats or mice getting into the house again.
