No one wants to think about having a mice problem in their own house. The mere thought of mice living in your home is likely to send shivers up your spine and make you feel extremely uneasy. But simply ignoring it, thinking it can’t ever happen, isn’t exactly wise. Especially if there are warning signs you’re not watching for. Mice can be highly destructive and act as carriers for a variety of diseases. Living with them isn’t an option, which is why you want to be aware of those red flags when they occur. So, here’s a look at four signs you may have a mice problem in your house.
You Find Rodent Droppings in the House
There’s no way around it. If you find rodent droppings in the house, this is a sure-fire sign you’ve got a mouse, if not multiple mice. Fresh droppings will be moist and dark in color, whereas older droppings will start to dry up and often turn a grey/brown color.
As for where to find these droppings, mice are notorious for trying to get into food, so it’s not unusual to find these droppings in cupboards, drawers, next to any food packages, and even under the sink. They tend to leave their droppings where they eat.
You Discover What Looks Like a Nest
Mice like to nest in your home and will do so by collecting any sort of dead plant leaves, pieces of fabric, and even shredded up paper. They will look for anything that they can start to create a small nest out of. If you’re unsure of whether or not it’s a nest, you can hire rodent exterminators to take a look, as they will be able to tell immediately if it’s a nest and if that nest is new and active.
Bite Marks on the Walls and Baseboards
These little rodents are also known for their very destructive gnawing which can happen throughout the home. Be sure to be on the lookout for bite marks on walls, baseboards, and even on wires. You want to be sure you catch it early before too much damage happens.
Another area where you may find bite marks is on food packaging. This is true for those with pantries and cold rooms or cellars. If you see that packages have been ripped open, chances are these are bite marks from the mice trying to get at the food. Not only is it a sign that you’ve got mice, you’ll also need to throw away any food items they have tampered with.
Nighttime Noises That Are New and Unexplained
Because mice are nocturnal, they are active at night, which means it’s quite common to hear scratching, chewing, and shuffling sounds in the middle of the night. These sounds typically come from inside the walls or ceiling, and can leave you baffled as to what they are.
When it comes to having mice in the house, one of the worst things you can do is ignore the problem. This will only invite more mice into the house until you have an even bigger issue. Learn to watch for the red flags so you can act swiftly.