Chilly winter weather can bring cozy nights by the fire, festive holidays, fun with family and friends . . . and an uptick in pest infestations. Nothing like an unwanted pest to make the most wonderful time of the year a little less wonderful!
Unfortunately, as it gets colder outside, rodents and other pests are more likely to venture indoors for warmth and food. For this reason, it’s important to prioritize rodent-proofing your home as part of your winter preparation! Worried you may have some pests visiting? Here are some signs of rodents or pests in your home. Call us at first sight — we do it right!
Seven Signs of Rodents in the Home
If you’re concerned you may already have unwanted tenants living rent-free in your house, here’s how you can tell:
1. Droppings
Rodent droppings are a sure sign that at least one little mouse, rat, or bat is likely moving around in your personal space! Most rodent droppings are small dark pellets, with mouse droppings around ¼ inches long and rat droppings closer to ¾ inches.
2. Musky, Ammonia Stench
Rodent urine leaves a very potent ammonia smell behind that is tough to miss! If you’ve ever had a pet hamster and left their cage uncleaned for too long, you know exactly the smell we’re talking about. This musky odor may result from rodents marking their territory around your home, especially if you can find damp spots at the source of the smell.
3. Holes in Food Packaging
Your kitchen is full of food sources for rodents, and thin plastic bags and cardboard containers with yummy morsels will do little to keep hungry rodents at bay. Holes chewed through bread bags, cereal boxes, and even bags of pet food are a likely sign of rodent activity.
4. Scratching Noises in the Walls and Attic
If you hear scratching or thumping noises in your attic, crawl space, or walls, you may have some critters crawling around. You’ll most likely hear this at night, as many species of rodents are nocturnal or at least more active in the evening.
Noises in the attic could be rats or mice, but they could also come from squirrels or bats, who are frequent flyers in the attic invasion club!
5. Chewed Wiring or Gnaw Marks
One of the most significant problems rodents present is their propensity to chew just about anything. The long, powerful teeth sported by mice and rats continue to grow their entire lives, and the only way they can keep them from getting too long is by gnawing on objects to file them down.
Mice will chew through wood, electrical wiring, rubber, insulation, plastic, and even soft vinyl. Rats are even worse, as they are known to chew through water pipes, drywall, and even thin glass!
6. Nests or Nesting Materials
Rodents will build nests as part of their own winter preparation to keep warm and cozy. These nests can be constructed of insulation, fabric scraps, furniture stuffing, food wrappers, string, and anything else they can get their paws on. If you find torn-up furniture, insulation, clothing, or stuffed animals, this may be the result of rodents scavenging for nesting materials. If you find a pile of these materials that contain droppings and that sharp ammonia stench, it’s a rodent nest.
7. Agitated Pets
Don’t underestimate the observational skills of your house pet! Cats and dogs have much stronger senses of smell than humans, and they’re likely to notice signs of rodents long before you do. Trusting your canine and feline companions’ instincts could save you a lot of trouble down the road by catching a rodent infestation early on.
Rodent Proofing: How to Prevent Infestation
To keep mice from being enticed by your home as winter sets in, here are a few quick tips for rodent-proofing your home:
- Seal up potential entry points around ventilation, pipes, roofing, etc.
- Declutter and remove debris inside and around the exterior of your home
- Store food in airtight containers rather than plastic store packaging
- Sign up for Advantage Termite & Pest Control’s maintenance program
That last part is key! Our year-round maintenance program is the best way to ensure no more rodents move into your home uninvited, providing you with everything from yard pest control to winter preparation.
Rodents of Any Size? We’ll Make Sure They Don’t Exist!
Looking for rodent control in Kansas City? Advantage Termite & Pest Control is here to help! We’ll eliminate any existing infestations and continue inspecting and treating your home and yard all year round so you can live pest- and worry-free!
Contact us today to schedule your first appointment. Call us at first sight — we do it right!
