Rodents can thrive living in your home. Not only is it a comfortable place to retreat from the weather, there is plenty of food and water for themselves as well as their rapidly growing rodent families. If you have found evidence in your home that you may have a rodent problem, you may be debating on whether you can get rid of the rodents yourself or need to call in a pest control company. While some situations can be easily dealt with by yourself, the risk of not eliminating all the rodents can lead to a much bigger problem. Rodents can breed rapidly and can also bring harmful bacteria into your home. If they have discovered your pantry, not only can they eat your food and tear up your food containers and packaging, they can leave behind bacteria that you may unknowingly consume causing you to get sick.
Signs
One mouse may leave behind minimal evidence. If you start finding signs of rodents, it is possible the size of infestation is quite healthy. Signs to look for are:
- Scratch and teeth marks: Rats and mice can make quick work in trying to get into a cabinet, trash can, or pantry when they smell food. You won’t notice a single scratch but if you find excessive scratch and teeth marks on wooden furniture or around the lid of your trash can, you are seeing a glaring red flag that you have a rodent problem.
- Droppings: Rodents produce small droppings. While rats dropping may be much more noticeable because of the size, it is also easy to spot mouse droppings if you are looking for it. In frequented areas, you will see a lot more rodent droppings together which will easily catch your attention. But if you see small droppings along baseboards or countertop edges, you are seeing evidence of a rodent infestation.
- Nest making materials: Rodents make nests out of shredded paper, pillow stuffing, fur, trash, leaves, etc. You will find piles of various soft, fluffy items in places that you do not often frequent. There will also be plenty of droppings to help you conclude that you have found a rodent nest. You may not actually find the nest, but you may discover torn up items or shredded paper the rodents carried off to their nest in progress. Take note if there is unexplained mess or ripped up items in your home.
Risks
The risks associated with a rodent infestation can affect your health, your home, and your safety. While not every rodent infestation leads to absolute destruction, the potential of the risks make it all the more crucial to eradicate the rodent problem as quickly as possible.
- Rodents can contaminate your food or even your air with bacteria-ridden pathogens through their saliva, urine, and droppings getting you and your family sick.
- Rodents chew on wooden furniture and baseboards, among other things causing damage to your home.
- Rodents also chew on copper wiring that can potentially cause a fire.
Call a pest pro
While it is possible to treat your home for rodents yourself, rodents can be difficult to eradicate, especially if the infestation is well established. Calling a pest control professional will allow you to put your mind at ease while the rodents are completely eliminated from the premises. A rodent control pro has the experience to know where to look for rodent nests or activity, how best to trap them, and how to guarantee they never come back. If you are in San Diego County and want the best rodent pest control in the state, give Nixtermite a call today.
