signs of rodent infestation

Watch Out: 6 Signs of a Rodent Infestation in Your Home

What’s the sound? Does it smell odd in here? 

Knowing the signs of rodent infestation is essential if you want to catch them before they begin to multiply rapidly. Rodents can, unfortunately, cause significant damage to a home, so it’s best to rid your home of them as soon as possible. 

As cold weather settles in, so do the rodents, looking for shelter from the cold. How will you know if you’re dealing with a rodent infestation? What are the signs of rodent infestation?

In the guide below, there are several signs of a rodent problem to keep in mind. Continue reading below to find out more and take your home back before the rodents take over. 

1. Strange Odors

Did you know that rodents leave behind a musky odor? They do! As unpleasing as this might be, there’s one benefit of rodents’ stinky odors: you’ll be able to catch them quicker. 

If you notice any stale odors coming from hidden-away places, then this could be a hiding place for the rodents. As your rodent problem worsens, the odor will worsen as well. Noticing a strange odor that becomes stronger over time might be a sign that it’s time to call in the professionals

Once a rodent dies, it also gives off a strong foul odor. Any dead rodents will need to be removed from your home immediately to prevent the spread of disease. If you find a dead rodent and want to remove it yourself, make sure to wear both gloves and a mask. 

2. Small Chew Marks

Rodents love to chew on just about anything. They’ll gnaw on materials around the house such as paper products, food packaging, and wires. They’ll even gnaw on the structure of your home as well. 

Although finding chewed-up belongings is less than ideal, you can use these chew marks to your advantage. Chew marks can give you some insight into how current the infestation is. Older chew marks will be darker while newer chew marks are lighter in color. 

If you have one older chew mark you know about, then try to compare it to a newly found chew mark to determine if one happened more recently than the other. You can also use chew marks to determine if you have mice or rats. Rats will have larger chew marks than mice. 

3. Unusual Pet Behavior

Having pets in the home is beneficial for several reasons. One of those reasons is that your pets might notice some signs of a rodent infestation before you do. Pay close attention to strange behavior from your pets.

That foul odor we discussed earlier will trigger your pets to search for rodents. Your pets may even hear the rodents running in the walls or scratching. When your pets begin having unusual behavior, make a note about what area in the house they seem to be interested in. 

Grab a flashlight and then inspect the area where your pets seem interested. You may find a rodent infestation. 

4. Rodent Tracks and Holes

Sometimes, rodents will leave tracks behind them as they move around. Be on the lookout for small footprints where dust might collect. Don’t hesitate to search up high.

A great way to discover rodent tracks is to take a flashlight and inspect areas where you believe rodents might be running back and forth. With the help of your flashlight, you might uncover footprints, urine stains, and even droppings. If you’re unable to detect signs of rodent tracks but believe there’s an infestation, then one trick to consider is using baby powder. 

Lay a light layer of baby powder down in areas where you believe they might be using as their paths. The baby powder will uncover footprints more easily. 

They’ll also chew holes in your home’s structure to create new entry points.

5. Rodent Droppings

Although you might not want to think about it, if there are rodents in your home, there are rodent droppings in your home. The size and shape of the rodent dropping will depend on the type of rodent it is. Mice will have smaller droppings than rats.

Rats will have droppings of different sizes and shapes depending on the type of rat. If you see rat droppings in your home, then you know there’s a problem. Be sure to clean the droppings using gloves and a mask. 

Fresh droppings will be dark in color and moist. Older droppings will be dried out, grey in color, and will crumble easily. Some common places to find droppings are as follow:

  • under sinks
  • in the cupboards
  • near food packaging
  • inside drawers
  • in hidden areas

You’ll find the most droppings where the rodents are nesting. 

6. Surface Grease Marks

Rodents fur holds oils that will wipe off onto the walls of your home when they run past them. Be on the lookout for grease marks and streaks on a variety of surfaces in the home. If you find grease marks, then you may be able to follow them to where the rodents are entering your home from.

If you then find nesting materials, such as chewed-up paper products then you may have found their nest or have come close to it. 

Know the Signs of Rodent Infestation and Take Action

When you know the signs of rodent infestation, you can take action quickly before the problem intensifies. Unfortunately, rodents will multiple when not removed from your home and the infestation will worsen. Use the information listed in this guide to determine if your home has a rodent infestation.

When you’re still unsure, or you need the professionals to remove the rodents from your home, be sure to contact AMCO Ranger Termite and Pest Solutions. 

Schedule your free inspection today!