Homeowners across the United States can experience rodent problems just about any time of year, but it is in the fall that rodent infestations become more common. The reason for this is that the weather is getting cooler, and they know that they need a warm place to hunker down for the long winter months. They also need a place that has access to food and water, which is why they find a way to get inside homes. The most common house-invading rodents are house mice, field mice, Norway rats, and roof rats, and they can enter through very small holes and gaps with ease.
Rodents are dangerous since they carry germs on their bodies, and in their urine and feces, that can cause diseases such as murine typhus, leptospirosis, and Salmonella. They can also do a lot of damage to a home and personal belongings, including electrical and plumbing damage by chewing through items, wires, and pipes.
At the first sign of any rodent activity, you should contact a professional pest control service immediately. As a homeowner, you need to know where to look and what signs to look for. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started with how to tell if you have a rodent problem this fall.
You should look for paired tooth gnaw marks that are about ⅛ of an inch wide, rice-shaped dark droppings, and any type of damaged food packaging. To look for these signs, check along baseboards, window and door frames, kitchens, pantries, and cabinets, as well as inside drawers and other contained areas. They may be nesting in the attic, wall voids, spaces behind appliances, and under furniture, as well as in storerooms, closets, boxes, and shelves. And take note that you may never see a rodent because they are great at avoiding detection. You might just hear them scratching or gnawing from their hiding places.
If you think or know you have a rodent infestation in Western Massachusetts or Hartford County, CT, call on the experienced technicians at American Pest Solutions. Our experienced technicians can find where the rodents are get rid of them and keep them out. We start with a thorough inspection then move on to effective removal and treatment, and continue providing ongoing protection. Give us a call today for more information on how we eradicate rodent problems for homeowners.