Rodents are nimble pests, often staying out of sight and undetected as they settle into buildings and homes where they can breed safely away from threat of predators and scavenge for food and water under the cover of darkness. Signs of a rodent infestation will often vary depending on the severity of the infestation, which can get out of control very quickly.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about the early warning signs that you could have a rodent problem.

 

Droppings

These small, dark pellets, roughly the size of rice grains, are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or pantries, as well as under sinks, inside chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards and on top of wall beams.

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Track or Rub Marks

Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards caused by their oily fur as they follow a trail throughout the property between their nest and food.

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Gnaw Marks

Rodents can cause some serious property damage by chewing through almost any type of material – from plastic and paper, to lead pipes. House mice and Norway rats are also known to chew on electric wires behind walls or in cars, increasing the risk for fires and malfunctions.

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Strange Noises

Hearing strange noises in the roof, especially at night when rodents are most active, there’s a good chance you have a family of rodents scurrying about the house. Rodents love dark, secluded spots to build their nests, making roof voids the perfect real estate for rats and mice.

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Nests

Rodents prefer to nest where there is little chance of disturbance, building their nests out of shredded paper products, cotton, wall insulation and fabrics. Spotting a bundle of these materials could be a clear sign that rodents have moved in and are ready to breed.

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Rodent Sightings

If you spot a rat or mice scurrying around your property, this could be an indication of a heavy infestation. Rodents breed rapidly, so where there’s one, there’s probably a lot more playing hide-and-seek out of sight.