Rodent droppings are truly disturbing to find in your home no matter where you come across them, whether on the bathroom floor, in a silverware drawer, or in a kitchen cabinet.
Our natural reactions, beyond initial shock, are usually disgust and fright and for good reason. The significance of having rodents in your home is the introduction of health risks for you and your family members. Additionally, rodents can chew through electrical wires and gnaw on the wood in your home, and if left unchecked, can cause serious damage to the structure of your home as well its foundation.
Another big concern is contracting the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which spreads to humans by mice and their urine or droppings. Rodents breed quickly and can spread throughout your home, well beyond the kitchen or garage. So, it is definitely best to deal with a rodent problem sooner than later.
So, you may ask yourself, “Why is this happening in my home?” There are a number of reasons that go beyond having an unkempt home or leaving food out overnight. For instance, you may live in an apartment building, surrounded by multiple dwellers who may possess different cleanliness or neatness standards. It could be that your neighbors are not aware of the infestation in their home until unfortunately, it spreads to your apartment or condominium.
Or, maybe you live in the country where rodents often come inside building structures when the weather turns cold and end up setting up shop for the long-term. Whatever the circumstances, you really do want to address the problem as quickly as possible.
Begin by asking yourself the following set of questions. The first of which is:
How do I know if I have a rodent infestation?
If you live in a place that shares walls with neighbors or you live in the country or really anywhere, we recommend you check for signs of rodents on a regular basis, just to be sure that if you see a sign you can catch the infestation early before the small mammals cause any problems.
Here’s what we suggest. With a flashlight, check for signs in the following areas:
- Behind appliances including stove, refrigerator, microwave, washers and dryers
- In cupboards, located at ground level and up high, and especially check in dark areas in the cupboards and behind and around food packages or tableware
- Under kitchen or bathroom sinks
- In closets especially in dark corners where rodents can hide
- Under furniture, including sofas and beds
- In the basement or garage where rodents can easily enter through existing cracks in the walls or around vents to the outside
- In ceilings or attic spaces, especially insulation material, which can be used as nesting sites for rodents
Here is a list you want to look for:
- Droppings (more detail below)
- Urine odors – strong musky smell
- Gnawed holes – in walls or sides of cupboard or pantries
- Rub and gnaw marks – if the rub is freshly made, it will smear to the touch
- Nests
Additionally, you may hear rodents scampering through your home at night, say over wooden or tiled floors or even in walls or on piping. If you have pets, watch their behavior. This is especially true with cats because they are natural hunters of smaller mammals and may be trying to get at the rodent to catch it.
Another area you can check is your furniture to see if it suddenly comes down with a case of bite marks. You can also check for rodent-sized foot tracks on your floors and other surfaces such as kitchen or bathroom counters.
Droppings truly are the telltale sign you may have an infestation. The shape and size of the droppings will also help you determine if you have a problem with mice or rats. Here are descriptions of each type of dropping:
- Mouse droppings: small, usually less than a quarter inch, with both ends pinched or pointed
- Norway rats (found throughout the United States): larger size, half-inch or larger, with blunt ends
- Roof rats (found in the southern portion of the United States and the west coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington): larger size, half-inch or larger, with pointed ends
It’s important to know what sort of infestation you have on your hands since the way one may deal with rodents is different than the way one would with insects.
Once you’ve ascertained that you have a rodent problem, the second question is:
What causes infestations?
While it is true that rodents are attracted to food waste, it’s important to bear in mind that they are burrowing creatures by nature. Whether they are burrowed underground in a field or in our walls, the fact is that they are doing what they are supposed to.
Frequently, however, we exacerbate existing situations by our actions, or lack thereof — as the case may be. If there’s a neglected corner of your home, or untidied food waste, the chances of an infestation increase.
Now that you know the causes, you should get on with your life and start thinking about the future, as well as the fourth question, which is:
What Caused the Infestation?
While it is true that rodents are attracted to food waste, it’s important to bear in mind that they are burrowing creatures by nature. Whether they are burrowed underground in a field or in our walls, the fact is they are doing what comes naturally to them.
Frequently, however, we exacerbate existing situations by our actions, or lack thereof, as the case may be. Here are some conditions that can attract rodents into your home:
- Adjoining neighbors who have a rodent infestation
- Dirty floors or carpeting where food crumbs collect and remain for long periods of time
- Flint, dust, or hair balls collecting in corners of rooms, under bathroom vanities or furniture
- Left-out food in kitchens or in other rooms of the house
- Clutter in your basement, closets, or garage
- Yard waste left on the lawn such as piles of leaves, which is perfect for nesting or nest material
So, what can I do about it?
You have a couple options. The first involves dealing with it yourself.
Usually, this option involves some type of trap. Snap traps, the quintessential mouse trap, as well as poison traps are common choices.
Others, like cage traps, achieve the same result, but leaves the rodent alive. Whether you want to deal with a live rodent or not, we do not recommend the use of glue traps, as these types of traps have been rated as inhumane by several animal rights groups, including PETA and The Humane Society.
If you do not resolve your rodent problem yourself, then the next step is to call a pest control company. While certain companies differ in terms of eco-friendliness and which pests they exterminate, the end result can be the same — more likely than not the pros will end the infestation for you.
With your current problem resolved, you may still wonder:
How can I prevent future infestations?
The EPA has summed up a prevention strategy into this single line: “Clean up food and water sources in and near your house.”
This means the responsible disposal of food waste, proper storage of your surpluses, and minimization of clutter in and around your house. This can be as easy as buying a lid for your garbage can.
The fewer opportunities to attract rodents, as well as ensuring that there are fewer places for them to burrow, will help minimize your chances of infestation.
To that end, be prepared to repair faults in your home’s structural integrity — if found — to reduce the number of possible rodent access points.
With luck, such prevention tactics will ensure that you may never need to deal with rodents ever again.
Top Image: Cosmopolitan