How Can You Tell If Your House Is Infested?
Rodents are some of the worst pests to have in your home. They come in, infest everywhere, and can cause significant structural damage to your building. Needless to say, you must take care of this problem as soon as you find it. . Rodent infestations may be both costly and dangerous. Don’t hesitate to contact your local pest controller http://ecopestcontrolbrisbane.com.au/ if you have an active infestation or suspect you may be vulnerable to one.
In addition to, rodents have also evolved to live in human settlements. So, it can be pretty challenging to even know when you have an infestation on your hands. Thankfully, there are some signs you could look out for to put you in the right direction.
Below are some of the most telling signs of a rodent infestation:
1. Rodent Droppings
Perhaps the most prominent sign of a rodent infestation is the sighting of droppings. The number of droppings you can find, as well as the state of the droppings themselves, can tell just how bad the infestation is. You can also know how long the rodents have been in your home.
You tend to find droppings in cupboards and other places where food is stored. Once you find them, you can also check if there are nests. If the droppings are old, it shows that the infestation has been there for a while. However, moist, brown droppings show that a rodent was just there.
2. The Urine Smell
Rodents urinate quite frequently. So, if there are enough rodents in your house, you’ll smell the urine quite easily.
Fresh urine smell is pungent and sharp. But, when left to fester, it grows stale and becomes even worse. The stronger the smell, the closer you are to the rodent’s nesting place. If the infestation is large enough, you will be able to see urine pillars and stacks.
3. Bites in Clothes
When a rodent is building its nest, clothes are usually the best item for it. So, if you notice bite marks and holes in your clothes, you probably have an infestation.
Besides clothes, you can also check for holes in your insulation. Once you notice shredded cloth fibers in the corners of your clothes, you know there’s an issue.
4. Holes in Wood Fixtures
Rodents are pretty organized. They will bore holes in drawers, desks, and other furniture pieces so they can get in and settle.
Most times, you’ll find just smell holes – small enough for the rodents to fit into your cabinets and be comfortable.
5. Gnaw and Rub Signs
When rodents move, their small feet leave marks around things like wood panels. Wherever the rodents move, their feet leave marks. If the marks are smeared, then you know that this is a region where the rodents move past pretty frequently.
6. The Nests Themselves
In the most extreme cases, you could find the nests of the rodents themselves. Rodents are fond of building nests where they live, shredding cloth fibers and paper pieces to make their homes.
Most times, you’ll find rodent nests in dark corners of your home. These include areas like closets, attics, crawl spaces, and even behind appliances like TVs and fridges. Basically, look anywhere that you can find a hidden crevice.
You can also check for droppings around any of these areas to see if the nest is still actively being used. If they’re still fresh and brown, there’s a high chance that the rodents are still there.
7. Weird Noises
Rodents move around and cause a lot of noise around your home. They’re also nocturnal, so you’ll probably hear their noises at night. This is when they come out of their nests to fed and store food.
If you think you have an infestation, listen for tiny noises and signs of movement in your walls, around your attic, in your floorboards, etc.
8. Irregular Pet Behavior
If you have pets, they’ll probably sense it when your house has rodents. They’ll act a bit differently, and they’ll be more alert when they sense that the rodents are around.
When your pets start to bark, meow, or paw at certain areas, get a flashlight and look for rodents. This is especially true if the pet behavior is suddenly abnormal.
9 .Escape Pathways
Rodents have a simple path that they find whenever they want to get nest materials and food. You can find nibbles and oily marks in and around some of your runways to see how they move.
Also, check for tiny droppings and footprints forming in the dust around your location. These are usually found around your pipes, walls, electrical wires, and more.
10. Actual Rodent Sightings
While rodents tend to be nocturnal, they can sometimes get bold enough to come out of their nests during the day. If you spot a rodent during the day, this usually means that the infestation is pretty huge.
As soon as you start noticing these rodents during the day, start to look for others – or their nests. Start looking for the other signs, and you should see something interesting.
Article Submitted By Community Writer