Nothing makes your skin crawl like seeing a mouse scurry across the floor of your house. These pests are a common problem, with almost 14.8 million people reporting seeing them last year.
Mice seek the cozy inside of your home when the temperatures drop. Even though they are small, they can threaten your health and property. Mice can spread diseases and destroy things like wood and electrical wiring.
Knowing the signs of these pests will help you determine if you have a mouse problem and get you on your way to fix it.
Here are the top five ways to tell if you have mice in your home and what to do about it.
1. Droppings
One of the telltale signs that mice have taken up residence in your home is their droppings. They aren’t very tidy with their bathroom habits, so you can identify this sign easily.
Mouse droppings look like tiny balls of dirt. Unlike dirt, you’ll find them grouped together. You may also find urine stains in the same area as the droppings.
Look for droppings at the back of pantries and closets. Basements and attics are other common spots for mouse droppings.
2. Noise
Although mice are small, they can make a lot of noise. Mice are nocturnal, so they make most of their noise at night.
If you hear scratching, running, or gnawing on your walls, it’s a sign you have rodent problems.
3. Damaged Food
Have you found a bag of cereal with a hole in the bottom of the box? If so, it could be mice.
One of the dangers of mice is that they can get into your food and devour it. Keep your food in airtight containers to discourage mice from their nightly snacking.
4. Burrows
Another sign that you have rats and mice in your home is from the nests that they make. Mice like to sleep in a cushy spot and make their nests with discarded soft trash.
If you find a mouse nest, it’s time to call a pest control service like One Two Tree. They’ll know how to remove the nest before it houses tiny mouse babies and leads to an infestation.
5. Pet Behavior
Your pets are much more in tune with spotting mice than you are. They will usually see and hear mice before you can.
Dogs and cats who hear mice will spend a lot of time in one area. They may start sniffing or making noise at one spot if they notice a mouse in the house.
Don’t Let the Mice in Your Home Do Damage
If you find out that you have mice in your home, you’ll need to mitigate the problem. Seal any cracks, screen the vents, and repair damaged screens to keep mice out. If you take these steps, you’ll keep mice outside where they belong.
Mice are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to owning a home. Check out our home life blogs for more home tips and tricks.
