During winter, rodents are more likely to move indoors in search of warmth and shelter. If you’re hearing scratching, finding mouse droppings, or catching sight of rodents moving through living spaces such as kitchens, here’s what you need to know about rodent control in Kansas City.
Why Rodents Move Indoors in Winter: The Hibernation Myth
Not all rodents hibernate during the winter months. In fact, most of them don’t. While rodents like groundhogs and chipmunks enter some form of hibernation, mice and rats stay relatively active. The main difference in rodent behavior during the colder winter months is that food and shelter are more scarce in the outdoors. As outdoor conditions become harsher, mice and rats seek sheltered indoor areas with reliable food sources.
While you may see fewer bugs and other common household pests in the winter, wildlife prevention becomes a much more important part of winter pest control as rodents may move closer to residential structures in search of food and warmth. As temperatures drop, mouse prevention becomes a top priority in pest control.
Five Signs of an Active Rodent Infestation
While rodent activity may be more likely in the winter, it also may be less obvious. Mice and rats don’t hibernate, but they do prefer to burrow down in their nests and keep a stash of food close by rather than going out and exploring. You may occasionally see rodents searching for food indoors, but usually rodents will stick close to home once they’ve had a chance to settle in.
Here are five things to watch out for that likely indicate a rodent infestation:
1. Rodent Droppings
You may not see active mice running around your home, but droppings are a clear indication rodent activity was present. These droppings are typically small, dark pellets. Rat droppings are a bit bigger than mouse droppings, so the size may give you a clue about what kind of rodent infestation you’re dealing with.
2. Chewed Up Food Packaging
Since rodents will primarily emerge from hidden areas in search of food, you may wake up in the morning to signs of them rustling around your kitchen during the night. Rodents will eat through just about anything their sharp teeth can manage to access food: plastic bread bags, cereal boxes, and even pet food bags. Store your food in sealed glass or hard plastic containers to keep it protected from these pests.
3. Scratching and Skittering in the Attic and Walls
Most rodents are nocturnal, meaning you’re more likely to hear them at night. Depending on how thin the walls are in your home, you might hear some scratching and skittering at night coming from pests in your walls, attic, or crawl space. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean mice or rats—squirrels, bats, and even raccoons may find their way into attics.
4. Gnaw Marks on Just About Anything
Rodents don’t just chew through things to find food. Rodents continuously gnaw to prevent their teeth from overgrowing. If they didn’t chew, their teeth would just keep growing as many as several inches each year if not worn down.
So aside from food packaging, what else do rodents chew on? Well, you might find gnaw marks on furniture, insulation, rubber, soft plastics and vinyl, and worst of all: electrical wiring.This behavior can lead to damaged electrical wiring and increased fire risk.
5. Nesting Materials
Rodents need two things to survive the winter: food and shelter. These rodents gather materials such as: fabric, insulation, paper, and leaves to build cozy nests. If you find ammonia-scented nesting materials tucked in your garage, crawl space, or attic, you have or at one time had a rodent infestation.
Mouse Control 101: How to Deal with an Infestation
There is really only one effective way to handle rodent control in Kansas City, and that’s with professional help. Eradicating a few mice with traps or bait may seem to work temporarily, but it doesn’t deal with the root issue. You may not catch all of the home invaders, or you might not find their nest or food supply. You also aren’t likely to figure out exactly where and how the rodents got into your home, all of which makes future infestations highly likely.
If you suspect you may have rodents in your home, contact Advantage Termite and Pest Control right away for winter pest control and treatment. Otherwise, you might end up finding rodent activity in unexpected areas, like under your car’s engine.
Oust the Mouse with Advantage Termite and Pest Control
Advantage Termite and Pest Control deals with a full range of pest infestations, including rodent control. No matter what rodents are present within wall voids or structural spaces, our professional pest management team will find them and make sure they don’t find you. If you’re desperate to get your home back to yourself this winter, Contact our team at the first sign of rodent activity for professional service!
