How to Spot a Mouse or Rat Infestation

This is our in-depth guide to how to spot rodent infestations. We’ll go over what our Lookout Pest Control technicians are searching for when they perform a rodent inspection at your home or business.

Need a quick answer? Check out How to Spot a Rodent Infestation (The Short Answer). Then come back here if you have any additional questions.

Have you been hearing suspicious scurrying sounds in the walls or finding chewed-up items around your home? It might be rodents. The first sign of rodents in your home can come as a shock, but it’s important to investigate the issue. If you can catch it early, it will be a much easier problem to deal with.

At Lookout Pest Control, our rodent control experts have extensive experience spotting hard-to-find signs of rats and mice, and this is what they look for.

What are the Signs of a Rodent Infestation in Your Home?

The thought of rats or mice in your living spaces can be unsettling, but familiarizing yourself with the telltale signs can leave you better equipped to address the issue promptly.

When it comes to identifying a rodent infestation in your home, it’s usually one of these signs that they commonly leave behind:

• Rodent droppings: Dark and moist, rodent droppings are often found near food sources. Common locations include kitchen cabinets, pantries, and under furniture. Both rat and mouse droppings are long and narrow, similar in shape, but rat droppings are much larger than mouse droppings.
• Gnaw marks: Does it seem like rodents gnaw everything? Rodent teeth never stop growing and they use gnawing as a way to control unchecked tooth growth. They will gladly gnaw through wood, plastic, and other materials. Anything, really.
• Nesting material: Rodents build their nests out of shredded paper, fabric, and any other materials they can find. These nests are often located in attics, basements, and other low-traffic areas of your home. If you find nesting material, wear a respirator and gloves before handling and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. These materials may be teeming with bacteria and can make people very sick.
• Smell: Rats and mice have a strong rodent musk that can be hard to miss if you’re in an area near where they’re active.
• Footprints and tail trails: Rodents will leave footprints and tail trails in dusty areas of your home. They can be hard to find with your naked eye, but easy with a black light.
• Scratching noises: Unexplained noises in the walls or attic can often be explained as rodents. You’ll often hear them at night or early in the morning when rodents are most active.
• Bite marks: Not to be confused with gnaw marks, rodents will sometimes bite through food packaging and plastic to try to get to the food.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have a Rodent Infestation?

If you spot any of the above common signs of rat or mouse infestation, we recommend you call a professional rodent exterminator like Lookout Pest Control ASAP. At Lookout, we will send out an experienced technician to do a full assessment, letting you know the extent of the rodent problem and what your options are.

The sight of one rodent typically indicates there are more where that come from, and often many more. Rodent reproductive cycles are extremely short too, which means that two rodents can quickly become many more.

The Southeastern United States’ Trusted Rat and Mouse Control Team

Rats and mice can cause problems in your home even if you never come in direct contact with them. That’s because they can carry diseases and contaminate food.

At Lookout Pest Control, we have been providing rodent control services in the Southeastern United States area for over 35 years. We’re a locally owned and operated business, and we’re committed to providing our customers with the highest quality of service. We use the latest technology and techniques to ensure that our rodent treatments are effective and safe.

Don’t let rodents make your home their home. Contact Lookout Pest Control today and get rid of them for good!