Do You Notice These Signs?
Mice are not bad, but mice in your home are! Not only do they spread disease, but they can cause major damages to your home’s infrastructure. Here are 5 definite signs that you have a mice infestation in your home:
1. Droppings
Mice urinate and defecate continuously throughout the day, leaving behind droppings wherever they travel.
Mice produce anywhere from 50-75 droppings per day. Homeowners who find themselves suffering from a mouse infestation will find mice feces in cabinets, below appliances and anywhere else the mice have traveled.
The feces are typically black in color and shaped like pellets with pointed ends. Their urine can also leave stains and nasty odors, a clear sign of their presence.
2. Sounds
Mice are most often heard in the mornings and at night when the house is quiet. You can hear their scratching and scurry through your ceilings and walls, and possibly even vents.
Sometimes seemingly amplified, the sounds produced by mice are often mistaken for much larger animals like raccoons and squirrels.
To check if the noise you hear is, in fact, a mouse, tap your hand on the wall where you hear the noise. In most cases, the noises will stop temporarily only to begin again shortly after.
3. Tunnels
For their size, mice have incredibly powerful teeth capable of chewing through food packaging, plastic, wood – even electrical wires, which can create serious fire hazards.
They might live in your walls, but prefer to nest in warm areas like your attic or near appliances that produce heat, including stoves, dishwashers, furnaces and water heaters.
They will create circular holes and tunnels, about 1 inch in diameter to access food and form openings to travel. Keep an eye out for these golf ball sized holes in your insulation as an indication of mouse tunneling.
4. Food Paths
As we mentioned above, mice chew their way around the house. They also chew their way into your food. Homeowners with mice infestations will often find holes in the bottom of dog food, bird seed, and pantry containers. At times, the chewing pattern shows obvious teeth marks.
You might find an abundance of crumbs, empty seed hulls, and other debris around your pantry or near the mouse-nesting site. If you do, then it is time to throw out that food and get an inspection to prevent any disease.
5. Clothes Holes
Mice create their nests by shredding and gathering fibrous materials like paper, cushions, insulation, and sometimes your newest jacket.
If you notice shredded fabric or other materials, especially in dark corners and seldom-used areas, chances are good that mice have taken up residence.
If you suspect that your home has a mouse infestation, schedule a service with our pest control specialists and we will be happy to help. Of course, we don’t want to worry you, but you should be aware of the potential danger a mouse infestation can bring to your home.
