Mice are one of the most common types of household pests. They can carry diseases, get into your food, and cause a significant amount of structural damage to your home behind the walls and in other out of sight areas. However, due to their nocturnal nature and their small size, it can be hard to identify when you have mice in your home. Fortunately, there are a few warning signs that you can keep an eye out for to determine when you should contact an exterminator before any of the above problems manifest themselves.
Droppings
The first, and the easiest to spot, sign of a mouse infestation in your home is if you notice droppings along the floor or in your pantry. Mouse droppings are extremely small black balls, which can be hard to notice individually but can quickly pile up due to a larger population and in certain areas, especially around food sources and nests. Mouse droppings are a serious health concern, and should be addressed by contacting a pest control specialist to deal with them, and the underlying mouse infestation, immediately.
Chew Marks
Mice love to chew on things, and if you have a sizeable population within your home, you should begin to see signs of chewing on a variety of different surfaces and items in your home. Keep an eye out for chew marks on wooden furniture, on your baseboards, and on all of your food packaging, since these all point to the presence of mice in your home. In some cases, mice can even chew through the wires powering electrical sockets or appliances, so if you suddenly see burn marks or smell something burning and a certain light fixture or outlet is no longer working, you may want to check for an electrocuted mouse nearby.
Tracks and Staining
Another clear indication that you have a mouse problem in your home is if you notice that there are tracks, also called runs, that stain certain areas of your home. These will usually show up along baseboards and the feet or sides of your furniture, and are caused by mice rubbing their fur up against it as they move around your home. The dirt and dust on their fur will cause this discoloration, and can point you to where the mice in your home have taken up residence, which can make the job of your pest control specialist much easier.
Visit a website like http://molterpestandwildlife.com to learn more.
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