Seeing a rodent or a small animal is an ordinary occurrence. And you may not have to worry about it until you notice that droppings and damages around your property start to manifest. There is no need to panic about the issue yet. Today’s piece will help you in figuring out if you have an infestation in your area. Additionally, it will give you an idea of what to do in case of one.
Types Of Rodents
Rodents are small mammals that have a single pair of protruding front teeth. They use the teeth for gnawing, eating, and scratching. These incisors maintain and keep on growing during a rodent’s entire lifetime. They can survive in even the harshest conditions, making them the most adaptive and diverse species alive today. While being adaptive and creative when looking for shelter and food, rodents and rodent droppings prove to be quite a nuisance for many commercial and residential property owners.
- Mice
The mouse is the most common rodent pest you can find in most homes. They are brown and gray, with wide ears similar to those of Mickey Mouse. Mice multiply a lot faster than humans.
- Chipmunks
Chipmunks have black and brown linings on their backs, fat cheeks, and furry tails. They use their teeth to gnaw all the time to prevent them from growing excessively.
- Deer Mice
Deer mice are small rodents that spend most of the year in rural areas. But they seek houses and cabins for shelter once the temperature starts to go down.
- Norway Rats
Norway rats prefer underground living quarters. These rats can grow from three to ten inches long, plus an additional eight to ten inches for their tails. They are infamous for chewing through almost anything, including pipes and metal surfaces.
- Squirrels
There are many kinds of squirrels. However, we will only focus on the one that invades homes the most: the tree squirrel. Their main physical features are tan and brown fur and a bushy-looking tail.
An Unusual Assistant: Rodent Poop
Rodents have various kinds of droppings. Knowing more about them will allow you to address what type of problem is in your hands. This aspect also lets you find out what specific solution is best to handle the matter.
- House rat poop can be relatively small in scale. They are pointy at the edge and can be smaller than a grain of rice. Auburn brown and shiny poop means it’s still fresh.
- Chipmunk feces look similar to those of the house mouse and roof rat. The main difference is that theirs is a bit larger.
- Squirrel droppings vary in size and are thicker than rat droppings.
- Norway rat droppings appear blunt and round. And these rats can leave up to sixty droppings in a single day.
- The discharge deer mice leave behind appear smooth and are pointy at the end. Deer mice leave their droppings in rat routes, drawers, and other food storage areas.
Signs Of An Infestation?
Rodent excrements are only one of the many factors that could lead to an outbreak in your property. Here are other things that may lead to one.
- Some nesting materials are visible around your setting. These include fabrics, wood pieces, paper, and dry leaves and plants.
- Chew holes in food packages and items.
- An unpleasant odor is present in unused areas around your home.
- There are holes in walls, ceiling compartments, and piping systems.
What You Can Do
Once you figure out what kind of rodent is making a mess out of your sweet abode, you can try out the following solutions.
- Block or seal out any holes and possible entryways into and out of your home.
- Sanitize the water and food sources around your property.
- Place trash bins and waste containers far from the house.
- Hire a rat exterminator for rat relief and rodent control services once things get too much to handle.
- Make sure the interior and exterior parts of the property are well-kept and tidy.
The Takeaway
Rodents are pests and can leave quite a mess in our homes and settings. You might go crazy in finding out where they are or how to end them permanently. However, some specialists can solve your woes but do so without killing the critters. You can get in touch and work with them to find a more peaceful and humane way of ending your rodent-related plight.