Mouse in the House: Common Signs That Mice Have Infested Your Home

While no one wants pests in their home, a mice infestation is something that you want to take care of immediately. Mice can reproduce rapidly—female mice begin having litters at a young age, and the gestation period is only 19 to 21 days.

Considering the fact that female mice can have five to ten litters a year, with an average of six to eight baby mice per litter, it is essential to know the signs of a mice infestation so you can call a pest control company immediately. Some of the most common signs that you have mice in your home include.

Scratching and Sounds of Activity

When you have a mouse infestation, you may not see mice right away, but there is a good chance that you will hear them. Mice can be quite active at night, so you may hear them scurrying around in the attic or between the walls of your home in the evening when the house is quiet.

If you hear scratching and scurrying within the walls or in your attic, it is best to act quickly. The sooner you call a pest control company, the easier it will be to control the mouse infestation.

Evidence of Droppings

If you have mice living in your home, you will most likely eventually find mice droppings around the house. It can be difficult to differentiate mouse droppings from those of other pests that may be in your home.

Generally, mouse droppings tend to be about one-fourth of an inch in length, while droppings from other pests, such as cockroaches, tend to be about one-eighth of an inch in length. When there are mice in your home, you may find droppings on the countertop of the kitchen, inside cabinets and the pantry, and along baseboards.

Grease Marks

Most mice inside homes tend to have greasy fur, and the buildup of oil, dirt, and debris can leave marks that show where a mouse has been. It is not uncommon to find dark marks on baseboards, walls, beams, and pipes where one or more mice may run around. If you suspect that you may have mice in your house, it is in your best interest to watch out for these dark grease marks throughout your house.

Strong Smell of Urine

Mice are known for urinating frequently, and their urine has a very strong and pungent odor. If you begin to notice a strong ammonia smell despite not using any ammonia-based products in your home, it may be a sign that mice have infested your home. In most cases, the more noticeable the smell is, the closer you are to areas where there is mouse activity in your home.

Physical Damage

Once mice are in your home, they can cause a lot of damage. Many people realize that they have a mouse infestation after noticing that doors, baseboards, ledges, or non-perishable food items have signs of being chewed or gnawed on. Mice tend to gnaw on hard surfaces continually in order to maintain their teeth, so if you have a mouse infestation, you will most likely notice damage around your home.

In the event that you physically see a mouse running across the floor or find one in a trap, there is a good chance that there are many more hiding. After seeing a mouse in your home, it is extremely important to contact a pest control company who is experienced in dealing with mice to assist you. If you are dealing with a mouse infestation, we invite you to contact Paffy's Pest Control for help getting rid of these critters.