This month is an important time of year for taking a look at the pest situation in your home. If you’ve unknowingly been sharing your home with pests all winter, now is the time to get them out of your house. Mice and rats, in particular, begin mating and breeding in the spring. If you have a few already, the problem could quickly get out of hand if you don’t take care of them. Here are some ways to keep your home safe from rodents before spring hits.
How To Identify A Rodent Infestation
One easy way to know you have an infestation is to spot a rodent. Where there is one rodent, there are usually more. A single mouse scurrying across the kitchen may not seem like much of a problem, but if it is ignored, an infestation could grow large, quickly. Here are some other signs of an infestation:
- Droppings. Mice and rats leave droppings wherever they sleep or roam, so you may begin to notice pellet-shaped drops around the house. The size may vary depending on whether you have house mice, roof rats, or Norway rats.
- Noise. If you have rodents living in your home, there’s a good chance you’ll hear them moving around. You may hear scurrying that sounds like it’s coming from behind the walls, or you may hear them moving around in the kitchen at night. Any strange noises like this are a sign to call professional pest control.
- Gnaw marks. Rodents need to chew constantly. This means that if rodents are living in your home, you’ll begin to notice gnaw marks on furniture, pantry items, or even cabinets and cupboards.
Rodent Infestation Problems
Is a rodent infestation that bad? The constant gnawing can certainly cause damage to your property and belongings. Rodents also make a mess with their feces and urine, and possibly even leave fur or grease marks throughout the house. And rodents can bring other pests into your home, pests such as lice, mites, fleas, and ticks.
Rodents may get into cabinets and pantries to find food. They’ll eat grains and cereals left in thin plastic or cardboard containers. Not only are they eating your food, but they can contaminate anything they get into. The most serious rodent problem, however, is that they carry diseases and bacteria. Rodents have been linked to diseases such as the bubonic plague, salmonella, and typhus. They may transmit disease by direct contact or through their droppings.
Causes Of A Rodent Infestation
Rodents come inside searching for food and shelter. If you have food lying out or in easily accessible containers, rodents will stick around. The best way to prevent this is to store all food in hard plastic or glass containers with airtight lids. To avoid providing shelter for rodents, keep your storage areas, such as the basement and garage, clean and organized. Less mess means fewer hiding options for rodents. You should also take a thorough look around the exterior of your home. Check for cracks or holes that may be providing entry. Keep in mind, that mice can get through a hole the size of a nickel.
Professional Assistance For Rodent Infestations
If you suspect there are rodents in your home, don’t risk the chance of disease or bacteria. A do-it-yourself approach takes time and patience and isn’t always effective. However, All-Safe Pest & Termite is available in the Dallas area to take care of your rodent problem. We know how to quickly, safely, and effectively remove rodents from your home, and help you safely clean your home once they’re gone.
Don’t wait until things get bad before taking a serious look at the creatures living behind your walls. If you think you have a rodent infestation on your hands, reach out to All-Safe Pest & Termite for help!