What are the signs you have a mice or rat problem?

Having mice and rats in your home or business can be incredibly embarrassing but on top of that it is a health hazard, that left unattended can wreak havoc on your business or home. Making your home or business rodent proof can be a trying task but when addressed quickly it can be an easier problem to manage.
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Rats and mice are both rodents, they are drawn to the warmth of your home during the winter months as well as the food and shelter, where they will nest and breed among your walls, roof and under the floor.
Rats and mice are gluttons, they love all kinds of food and will eat anything. That is why it is essential to store your food safely away and make sure every container is sealed properly.
So, how do you know you have rodents? There are few telltale signs that rats and mice infest your home that you should look out for:

• Scurrying in your walls, ceilings and floorboards. You will often hear the sounds of rats and mice running in your ceilings or under your floor. They will scratch and gnaw on anything, including wood, electrical wires and other things you don’t want rodents chewing through.

 

• Droppings. Mice and rats will leave their droppings everywhere. A rat’s droppings are 12mm long and usually tapered at the end while mice droppings are half the size and thinner.

 

• Smell of urine. A strong scent of urine is a strong indicator of mice or rats occupying your property.

 

• Fur or rubbing marks. Rats and some species of mice will leave black smears, like grease, along walls or near the entrances to your property. These are usually on their most travelled routes or where they squeeze through holes or roof joints.

 

• Nests. Rats and mice build nests in small cozy areas of your property. Be sure to check under your floorboards, behind fridges, in cupboards or the roof for piles of soft shredded materials.

Problems rats and mice can cause

• Damage to furniture and internal structures, as well as insulation
• Destruction of wires which can become a fire hazard and become an expensive problem to fix
  

If you find you have rats be sure to contact your pest control technician immediately. Rats and mice pose a huge threat to the reputation of your business as well as the health of family members in your home and their population grows rapidly. Prevention is almost always better than cure. So be sure to get in touch with a pest control expert as soon as possible.