Top 4 Signs Your Home Has Mice

I think the majority of home owners have dealt with mice in the house from time to time. I live on an old farm so its kind of par for the course. One of the reasons I am so adamant that I need to get that rock off my house and the old stucco beneath it is because I have a bit of a mouse highway into my crawl space and then into my basement. Its not good lol. I keep traps out all of the time and have had several arguments with red squirrels in my house! I’ll get it fixed though and I so look forward to not having to worry about little critters inside again!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

Did you know that rodent infestations plague about one third of American homes?

No matter how clean and tidy you keep your home, there’s a good chance that at some point or another, you’ll deal with a mice infestation.

Luckily, mice are pretty easy to get rid of; you just need to make sure you spot them right away. Otherwise, they could end up reproducing, and a small problem could soon turn into a huge catastrophe.

But how can you tell if there are mice in your home?

It’s not as obvious as you may think. Read on to learn the top 4 signs your home has mice.

1. Droppings

Rodent droppings are perhaps the most tell-tale sign of all that you have a mice infestation in your home.

Mouse droppings are very small in size but definitely noticeable to the naked eye. They are a little less than one quarter of an inch in size, and they are typically pointed on both ends.

Rat droppings, on the other hand, are half an inch or larger. And rather than being pointed, they are blunt on both ends.

New droppings tend to be putty-like and shiny, while old droppings are hard and dull. If you find lots of droppings in your home, this is an indication that you are dealing with a large infestation.

And the location of the droppings can tell you where you need to set out your traps. If you aren’t exactly sure how to go about catching a mouse or rat, check out this post on 6 ways to get rid of mice.

2. Gnaw Marks

Mice love chewing on pretty much anything they can get their hands on, which is why gnaw marks are another tell-tale sign that you have mice in your home.

Typically, if the gnaw marks are newer, they will be lighter in color.

And while mice aren’t picky about what they chew on, it’s most common to find gnaw marks on food packaging and on the structure of your home.

Also, the marks can tell you whether your home has rats or mice. Rats produce larger gnaw marks, while mice produce smaller ones.

3. Something Smells

Is there a strong, musky odor in your home that you keep blaming on your pets or your children?

Well, we’ve got news for you. That smell is most likely coming from a mice infestation. If there’s a large infestation in your home, the smell will be quite noticeable.

If the infestation is smaller, then the smell might not be as obvious. Luckily, your pets can help clue you in on the bad smell.

Pets have a very strong sense of smell. Therefore, when they smell the mice odor, they will likely become more active and excited in areas where the mice are present.

If you see your pet pawing at or getting excited in an area in which they previously showed no interest, then that’s a pretty big indicator that you have mice in your home.

4. You Find Nests

Rodents are pretty resourceful when it comes to building nests. They will use fabric, dried plant pieces, and shredded paper to build nests inside the walls of homes.

If you find these materials strewn about your home alongside droppings, bad smells, or marks, then there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a mice infestation.

So, those are the four biggest signs that you have mice in your home. If you have any questions about spotting mice in your home, let us know in the comments below!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)