How to Identify a Rodent Infestation
As we head into the winter months, rodents seek shelter indoors, and homes are an excellent place for them. It may only take a few days for you to notice an infestation in many situations. Rodents reproduce quickly. Female mice give birth to up to 60 pups a year and have a new litter every three to four weeks. Since housing a community of tiny newborn rodents is one of the last things on a homeowners to-do list, here are the signs indicating you have a rodent infestation:
Droppings
Check for tiny brown or black rice-sized droppings found in cupboards, the attic, bookshelves, and other areas throughout the home. Rats and mice leave small droppings while scampering in your residence, which leads to potential health concerns. These little critters fit through tight spaces such as cracks in the walls or ceiling, under crawl spaces, and behind the kitchen walls and other household appliances. Droppings spotted anywhere throughout the home indicate you have a pest problem.
Small footprints or trails
If you’ve held off on dusting some less used areas of the home, finding tiny animal tracks or tail trails also indicates the presence of rodents. You will have a more difficult time spotting rodent tracks in your home in areas that are regularly dusted or vacuumed. Don’t take this as a reason to put the cleaning supplies away. Regularly cleaned spaces make it harder for rodents and other pests to find food sources in your home.
