Rodents are small mammals that are characterized as pests due to their harmful nature to human health. Rodents can carry ticks and other harmful pathogens that can make you sick. Rodents usually make nests in gaps within walls or floor boards, so they are also harmful to the foundation of your property. Rodents such as rats can also chew through clothes and wiring causing damages that can result in big losses.
Rodent infestation can be avoided if you stay vigilant and watch for the following signs around your home:
- Rodent Droppings:
Like any animal, rodents consume food and lay droppings around their habitat. Rodents such as mice and rats lay a lot of droppings as they consume a lot of food, you can recognize these droppings easily as they are dark and around 1/4- 1/3 inch in size. - Chew Marks:
Look around your house specially around food cabinets to find any kind of chew or scratch marks as rats will try to access those cabinets by chewing their way through the wood. Rats also like to chew on other materials so check plastic surfaces as well. - Sound:
Rodents such as mice and rats are nocturnal which means they are very active at night, so at night try to see if you hear any squeaking noises around your pantry or in your garage or attic. - Holes:
Rats and mice like to live in small spaces to birth their offspring so look for any kind of holes or burrows in your house if you see any hole near the floor which was not there before chances are there is a rodent or multiple rodents living in there. - Pet Behavior:
If you have any pets in your house see if they have changed behavior as cats and dogs will try to hunt these rodents as a part of their predator instincts. If you see your cat or dog clawing at a wall or growling near your pantry, chances are you have unwanted guests in your house.
Conclusion:
Rodent infestation must be avoided at all costs as it can not only cause a lot of problems not only in terms of damage to your property but they also carry a lot of deadly pathogens that can cause hefty medical bills and in some unfortunate cases deaths. Rodent droppings are full of such deadly bacteria and viruses.
So, it’s better that you stay on lookout for the above-mentioned signs and at first sign of an infestation be ready to get rid of them by consulting pest control experts.