Being able to hide well is essential for mice, and it’s why we rarely see them out in the open during an infestation. Luckily, they leave other signs when they are present, but these signs are often found when the infestation has grown considerably. However, there is one way you can tell that you have mice, even without seeing any droppings or gnaw marks – the smell.
What a mouse infestation smells like
When mice set up inside the home, you will start to notice a musky, ammonia smell, especially in areas that are closed such as drawers, cabinets and pantries. The smell is present wherever the mice are active, and you might notice it near walls and baseboards as well. Mice will use this smell to mark territory.
Other signs of a mouse infestation
If you notice this distinctive smell, you might want to check for other signs of a mouse infestation in order to confirm that they are present. There are two main signs that you want to keep an eye out for are gnaw marks and droppings.
Mice have a tendency to gnaw on everything, especially wood and plastic, so if you check your furniture, walls, and appliances, you may start to notice gnaw marks. Gnaw marks look exactly like you would expect – they look like something was chewing on the object.
Mice will also leave a lot of droppings in areas where they are highly active. Mouse droppings are very small, usually no more than a quarter of an inch in length, and they resemble tiny grains of rice. Whenever you notice these droppings, you can be 100% certain that you have an infestation.
What to do if you have detected a mouse infestation in your home?
If you’ve come across all the signs that indicate a mouse infestation in the home, you will have to act fast and move on to the control process. At this stage, it’s best if you work with a pro, especially if you are dealing with a large infestation. A pro will remove an infestation completely, before the mice have any chance of reproducing and growing in number. If you would like to find out more information about mouse infestations and the control methods used against them, or if you would like to set up a pest control appointment, contact us today, and one of our team members will gladly help you out.
