Signs That You Might Have Rodents in Your Home and What To Do

Living on an old farm and still keeping livestock near a 100 year old home means we still get rodents into the house from time to time. I feel like, at this point, its a damned near impossibility to eliminate the problem completely especially with how hard our winters are. Every single fall the mice get in somehow. A few years back we were in for a whopper of a winter and the rodent problem here in Minnesota brought cat adoption up 20%! As for us, we put out traps in the basement and that takes care of it lol.

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

Having rodents in your home is never a good sign of things to come. Rodents can easily find their way into your home and start causing havoc. There’s also the danger that they spread diseases to you or even your pets and children. That’s why it’s incredibly important that you look out for the common signs that you may have some kind of rodent infestation in or around your home. In this post, we’ll be discussing those signs and also explaining what you can do about it.

Have you noticed droppings around your home?

Droppings are a clear sign that your home has a rodent problem. However, unless there are lots of droppings then you might be able to stop the problem before it gets worse. It’s important that you try to identify the droppings so you know exactly what kind of rodent you’re dealing with. However, if there’s no way to identify the droppings, then you may want to consider hiring a pest control expert to do the work for you.

Do you see chew marks and debris on wood, cardboard and other materials?

Rodents love to nibble on things like wood and cardboard in order to get to food and this often leaves behind a lot of debris. This can be hard to detect if you’re renovating an old home because loose bits of debris, cardboard and other materials can be everywhere. However, if you’re in a home that isn’t going through some kind of renovation or construction work, then you should pay close attention to any kind of chew marks and debris left around that wasn’t there the previous night.

Are your pets behaving in a weird way?

If your pets are behaving in a strange way then it could be because they’ve noticed or seen rodents scurrying around. You may want to consider wildlife removal services if your pets behave differently only when they’re in your backyard. Many rodents can find themselves in your home because you offer food and warmth to them, and these can be the hardest kinds of rodents to identify and get rid of.

Can you occasionally hear scampering or gnawing noises?

Scampering and gnawing is usually a clear sign that there are rodents in your home. The next problem is identifying how they’re getting into your home. In most cases, they’ll come from the outside and make their way through any kind of entrance that is exposed such as pipes or a loose tile in your roof. Do a full inspection of your house and if you can’t find the entrance point, you may want to consider contacting an expert.

Have you seen bite marks on your plants and vegetables?

Lastly, make sure you look for bite marks on your plants and vegetables. If you’re growing food in your backyard then it’ll look like a feast to rodents. They’ll happily burrow into your garden and start eating up all of your crops if you’re not careful. You’ll need to find ways to prevent them from getting in while also trapping them to cull their numbers.

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