Signs of Rodent Infestation in the Midwest

Cooler nights signify the onset of fall and even though most of us don't want to admit it, summer is coming to an end. This means lots of things: kids heading back to school, falling leaves and big orange pumpkins. But it can also mean you have new visitors looking to come stay in your home. Those visitors are rodents, and they are looking for a comfortable and warm place to spend the winter. This fall, be aware that your home may be harboring some unwanted guests and be sure you know what to look for when investigating a possible rodent infestation.


Signs of Rodent Damage
Droppings: The most commonly encountered sign of rodent presence are rodent droppings. An adult house mouse can typically produce between 50 and 75 droppings a day. These pellets are usually about ¼ of an inch in length, dark brown and pointed at both ends, shaped like a grain of rice. These droppings can spread diseases to you and your family, so you should never ignore them if you find them in your home. You can find these droppings just about anywhere in a building, but you are more likely to see droppings near food sources or near an actual rodent nest.

Gnaw Marks: If you've seen signs of recent gnawing, you may have mice or other rodents present. They will chew wiring, wood, dry wall, insulation, corners of food containers and they will also shred paper from books and paper towels to help create their nests. They can cause structural damage to buildings through their nest-building and gnawing activities, so having them in your home is less than ideal. You may see piles of wood shavings or teeth marks on food containers, and this is an obvious sign that you have rodents in your home.

Smudge Marks and Footprints: Other signs of rodent activity can include rub marks along beams or walls that show the travel routes taken by mice and rats as they go from their nest to other areas of your home. This is where the oil or dirt rubs off their fur onto the routes that they regularly take inside a building. They may leave urine stains as well along their travel ways or in areas where they feed. You can also see their tiny tracks (including footprints and tail marks) in dusty surfaces.

Sounds and Odors: Because mice will often nest inside a wall, or in an attic area, you can often hear them running around in these spaces. You may hear gnawing, climbing and squeaking. A strong musty odor is another sign of mice or rat infestation. Usually your family pets will notice these scents first as they excitedly sniff or scratch at an area where these rodents are present.

Visual Sightings: The most obvious sign of rodent infestation is actually seeing the pests running across the floor or sitting in your cupboard. These pests are most normally seen at night since they are nocturnal, but they can be seen during the daytime as well. Often their nests are in garages, closets, attics, basements and outbuildings, but they can be inside your walls too. If you have seen just one mouse or rat in your home, you most certainly have a rodent problem.

Getting Rid of Rodents In Your Home
Like with most pest control options, there are rodent control methods available at home improvement stores. These methods are not fully effective at controlling a rodent infestation in your home because they only trap the rodents that have ventured out of the nest. Do-It-Yourself control techniques don't take into consideration how the rodents got into your home in the first place, so will not help to prevent the problem in the future. If you have any of these signs of rodent damage in your home, the best control option available is to contact your local Minneapolis pest control professional. Pest control professionals have the tools and the techniques to help you get rid of your current rodent population and to help keep them from returning. If you have seen even one sign of rodent infestation, contact a pest control professional today and gain the peace of mind you get from knowing your home and property are safe from rodents this coming fall and winter.