3 Signs it's Time to Call an Exterminator to Get Rid of Mice in Your House

Posted on: 14 July 2017

Mice are annoying little creatures because they chew up your belongings yet they remain hidden from sight. You may never actually see a mouse when you have an infestation because they are stealthy and only come out at night. They leave behind signs of their presence though, so when you spot any of the indications of mice in your house listed below, it's time to call your pest control company for help.

A Strong Odor In The House

When you share a home with mice, it won't be long until you realize they're around because you'll smell them. You may pick up on an ammonia odor that's left behind in their urine. You might also notice the musky body odor they leave behind when they rub on the floors to leave a scent trail behind. Plus, mice leave droppings everywhere they go. The combination of waste and body odor creates a distinctive smell that alerts you to rodents in the house.

Mouse Droppings In The Kitchen

Mice carry diseases, so the last place you want them is in your kitchen. However, your kitchen is like a food paradise to mice, so that is their favorite place to visit. When you have mice, you'll find their droppings on your counters, kitchen floor, and even inside your cupboards.

The mice may not actually live in your kitchen since it is often a busy room most of the day, but at night, when it is quiet in the house, mice will come out and eat crumbs and food sitting on the counter. They may even rip into boxes and sacks of food or lick the food off dirty dishes left sitting out. When you see mouse droppings or signs of gnawing on your food, it is time to take action to eliminate the pests.

Abandoned Nests

Mice are busy little nest builders. They shred paper and fabric to create comfy nests for sleeping and for raising their young. If you find a nest, it might still have mice in it or it could be abandoned if the mouse decided to move to a quieter part of the house.

You might stumble onto a mouse nest anywhere in your home that is in a hidden and mostly quiet place such as in a closet, box of clutter, linen drawer, or even behind the refrigerator. If you find a nest, it's best to call an exterminator in your city to search for signs of an active infestation. A nest indicates the presence of mice at one time, and once you have mice, they'll stick around until they're exterminated.

You may be glad you never actually see a live mouse, but just because they're out of sight doesn't mean you should forget about them. They'll leave behind contamination and germs every night when crawling on your countertops, and if their numbers grow and the food supply dwindles, the mice could even become aggressive.

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