Mice and other pests enter homes and commercial buildings each winter looking for food, water, and shelter from the cold. The rodents threaten the health of your household in several ways, such as contaminating food sources with bacteria-ridden droppings. They can also spread the hantavirus and other diseases through saliva, urine, and feces. If you notice these indications of a mouse infestation in your home, schedule pest extermination services as soon as possible.

How to Know if There Are Mice In Your Home

1. Droppings

Mouse excrement is less than one-quarter of an inch with pointed ends, unlike rat pellets that are half an inch or bigger with rounded ends. You’ll notice droppings in areas mice frequent, such as along walls, around nest areas in attics and basements, and under furniture.

2. Chew Marks

Gnaw marks appear on wooden objects around the home when mice are present. Watch out for marks on the ends of wood furniture and baseboard corners. The rodents also chew on piping, carpet and rugs, paper products, and cables to keep their teeth short.

3. Scratching Noises

Mouse activity typically occurs at nighttime, though the rodents can still be active during the day or in the early evening hours. Mice often find their way into walls. If they’ve done so in your home, you’ll hear them scratching around as they build nests, chew on assorted objects, and look for food.

4. Musky Odors

Mouse urine has a strong musky smell that becomes increasingly apparent as an infestation worsens. Odors are generally most pungent around nesting areas and rodent pathways along building foundations, ledges, pipes, and walls. Vermin use these and other runways, such as tree branches, to travel.

5. Changes In Pet Behavior

Dogs and cats provide indications of rodent activity with behavioral changes. You may notice your cat staring under the stove or along a radiant heat baseboard, or your dog pawing at certain spaces and barking. If there are uninvited animals in your home, your pets will often let you know. 

Don’t ignore the signs of mice infestations. Contact Bugout Termite & Pest Control in Glen Burnie, MD. This pest extermination company has been serving the Baltimore Metro Area for 30 years. A member of the Maryland Pest Control Association and the National Pest Control Association, these pest experts offer non-contract services, follow-up specials, and time-framed appointments. Call (410) 760-6065 today to schedule an appointment, or request pest extermination services online.