Let’s be honest – most of us don’t like the idea of small mammals living in our attic. However, rats, mice, and other rodents are natural dwellers of dark and hidden places. Good news though; they rarely appear in attics, unless there’s something particularly inviting about it. However, if you find signs of rodent activity in your home, it’s always possible that they may have set up shop in your attic. Fortunately, there are a few ways to identify how bad the problem is as well as steps you can take to get rid of them once and for all.
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What to Look For When Identifying a Rodent Infestation
- Smell – Rodents have a distinctive smell, which you may notice if there are a lot of them in your attic.
- Chew Marks – Most rodents chew on wood. If you find that your attic has chew marks, you probably have a rodent problem.
- Tracks – If you find that there are areas where rats or mice have run along your attic floor, this is another sign of an infestation.
- Bite Marks – While you may not see a rodent, you may notice that your wires or cables have been bitten. If you find rodent bites on your electrical wires, be careful because they may have been gnawing on them as a source of food or water.
- Scratching – While scratching can be a sign of any number of pests, it is a good indicator that you have rodents in your attic.
Detecting Rat and Mouse Droppings
If you find rodent droppings in your attic, this is a clear sign that you have a rodent problem. Droppings, which are small and black, are good ways to tell the difference between the feces of a rat and those of a mouse. Mice droppings are smaller and have pellets or fragments of undigested food, while rat droppings are larger, about the length of a grain of rice.
Rodent droppings are toxic and can carry diseases. If you find droppings in your attic, disinfect the area quickly.
Determining the Number of Rodents in Attic
Look for signs of chew marks on electrical cables. If you find that rodents have been chewing on your wires, this can cause a fire in your attic. It is important to repair the damage and find ways to prevent rodents from getting into your house again.
Look for sudden increases in rodent droppings. If you notice a lot more droppings in your attic and along the outside of your house, there may be a larger number of rodents in your attic.
Look for scratch marks on your walls as well. If you notice that your walls are being scratched up, there may be a larger number of rats in your attic than previously anticipated.
Know Where the Entry Points are for Rats and Mice
If you have rats or mice in your attic, you will want to know where they are getting in. Most pests get into the attic through the roof. There are a few ways to figure out where they are getting in. – Look for signs of rodents along the edges of your roof.
Listen carefully for sounds coming from your roof. Rats and mice often make vocal noises if they’re trapped in an attic, so you will be able to hear them if they stage an expedition into your home.
Check the condition of your roof and the weather stripping around your attic. You may be able to find an area around the roof where there is damage or a gap in the weather stripping. If you find holes or damage, it’s probably time to patch it up.
For more information on dealing with rodents in your attic, check out this article from Texas A&M AgriLife.
Conclusion
A rodent infestation can be dangerous and expensive to deal with. It is important to identify the type of rodent in your attic and take steps to get rid of it as soon as possible. With the right information, you can identify the type of rodent in your attic and get rid of it for good.
Still have a rodent issue? Recon Pest Services is here to help. Contact us today for a free quote.
