A mouse only needs a tiny hole to gain access to your home and this doesn’t need to be at ground level. In fact, mice are excellent climbers and the eaves of your home will often be just as enticing as your kitchen.
Discovering you have an infestation is never a nice moment. But, you’re not alone. Studies suggest that 82% of US households have, or have had a mouse infestation.
To combat the mice you need to be aware of the signs of a mouse infestation and you need the number of your local pest control firm. Although you can deal with the issue yourself, it is usually a much bigger problem than it may appear, the experts will find the source and resolve the issue properly for you.
Visible Mice
One of the most obvious signs that you have a mouse problem is when you actually see a mouse. It can be running across the kitchen floor or scurrying away from the attic when you open the hatch.
If they are visible this means they are starting to get bold and the infestation may be quite serious.
After all, most mice make their homes in the basement or the attic, these are the places you don’t visit that often, which makes the mice safer.
Noise
Your house is probably noisy most of the time but, as you go to bed and the house gets quieter, keep an ear out for strange noises. The sound of scrabbling or tiny feet is a good indication that you have mice in the attic.
The louder the noise the bigger the issue. You may even be able to shine a torch into the attic and hear them scurrying out of the way.
Visible Trails
Mice tend to walk the same path as they know it is relatively safe. If your attic is unfinished you’ll have insulation between the joists. Take a look at the insulation and see if there are any visible indentations. These will create a trail back to the mouse nest and tell you that you have an issue.
If your attic is already finished you can always sprinkle talc on the floor. The mice will walk through it and leave telltale prints. You can even use this method to help track down the nest, that’s useful info for a professional. Click here to speak to an expert near you.
Damage
Mice like to chew and their teeth can get through most things! Take a look at any exposed electrical cables and wood edging. If there are any gnaw marks then the mice are visiting, you’ll need to act quickly as exposed electrical wires can do more than shut off your power, they can actually start a fire.
Don’t forget that exposed copper wires can get hot if they’re resting on anything flammable it can ignite.
Droppings
Mice don’t have a designated toilet area, they simply leave their waste as they run. If you see droppings you’ll know you have a problem. But, you can also follow the droppings to find their nest. This will help you to eradicate the entire tribe in one go.