Rats and mice prefer nesting in secluded areas such as attics, basements, garages, garden etc. or spaces such as attic insulation, vents, under the bathroom sink, behind the cabinets, access panels for plumbing, electrical panels, etc. Once inside, rats and mice roam around the house at night in search of food, water, nesting material, access and escape routes, and hidden places where they can build nests.

How to Identify a Rodent Infestation?

You may never spot a rat or mouse inside your house unless an infestation is severe. So, you need to look for signs of rat or mouse infestation such as:

• Chew marks: Rodent’s incisor teeth never stop growing. So, they possess a natural instinct to keep chewing on something to file down their teeth. Chew marks on food packaging, wires, door/window frames, wooden cabinets, etc. indicate the presence of rodents inside your house.

• Nesting material: While Norway rats dig burrows under the ground for nesting, roof rats normally prefer nesting in attic insulation or on trees near a structure. Mice often build nests indoors with shredded paper, cardboard, clothes, etc. The presence of nesting material such as shredded fabrics, paper, cardboard, dried plant matter, etc., usually in hidden spaces inside or outside a building is a definite sign that rodents are around.

• Noises: You may hear distinct scratching or squeaking noises at night when these nocturnal creatures run around the house or chew on wooden items, insulation, wires, plastic pipes, soft concrete, etc.

• Droppings: Rodent droppings in hidden spaces such as drawers, cupboards, attic, under the sink, etc. or around food packages imply that you have a rodent problem. At times, you may also spot urine trails or track marks along the floor in spaces that are frequented by rodents.

• Foul odor: Stale smells emanating from hidden areas of the house indicate a possible rodent infestation.

• Holes: Rats and mice can dig new holes or widen a smaller one to create access/escape routes. Check along the walls and hidden areas of the house. Brown rats, wood mice, and yellow-necked mice are known to dig extensive burrow systems underground or inside the walls, mostly with one main entrance and 1 or 2 exit points inside a building.

Rats and mice are a lot more than just a nuisance. Real dangers of rodent infestation include the risk of house fires, structural damages, loss of irreplaceable items such as heirlooms, artwork, family photographs, etc, and numerous health risks.

Therefore, it is advisable to speak with a rodent control technician as soon as you notice a few warning signs. A rodent infestation can get severe within a few weeks if left untreated.

How to Prevent a Rodent Infestation

Rodent proofing a building isn’t difficult if you are prepared to follow some tried-and-tested guidelines.

• Get Rid of Potential Nesting Sites: Remove potential nesting sites from your property, including debris, cardboard boxes, garbage, deep mulch, and leaf piles. Do not keep papers, clothes, cardboard boxes, etc. out in open in attic, basement, or garage.

• Remove Food and Water Sources: First things first, do not store food items in the attic or basement. Use metal or hard-plastic containers to store food items in the kitchen. Store kitchen garbage in airtight plastic/steel containers. Avoid keeping pet food or water bowls out in the open unattended. A compost bin, if any, should be placed as far away from the house as possible; when you add food scraps, turn compost pile with a stick.

• Remove Potential Rodent Entry Points: Seal up all cracks and crevices along the walls, window/door frames, roof, plumbing panels, etc. Rodents can squeeze in through tiny holes or widen them to create easy access routes. Use steel wool with caulk to seal up all potential rodent entry points. You can patch up large cracks or holes inside or outside the house with cement or metal sheets.

• Use Natural Rodent Repellants:  Cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil can help repel rats and mice looking for a way in. You can place them near potential rodent entry points.

• Set Traps:  Get a few glue traps or snap traps from a local store and place them near rodent entry points to catch rodents trying to get in. 

A professional rodent control company will no doubt deliver the best results but you can always take the above-mentioned steps to keep rodents out of your house.

About the Author: My name is David Dorfman. I am the PR Media Manager at Rodentsstop.com,  an independent, family-owned and local rodent clean up and control company. One of my passions is educating and helping people through all the issues related to living in a rat and mice free environment.

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