5 Signs You Have Mice or Rats
Rodents are good at staying out of sight. By the time most people see a mouse or a rat, there are usually more of them living nearby. In Southern California the two you are most likely to deal with are the roof rat, an excellent climber that loves palm trees, citrus trees, ivy and attics, and the house mouse, which nests in walls, garages and cabinets.
Here are five signs it's time to take a closer look.
1. Droppings
Droppings are the most common sign. Mouse droppings are small, about the size of a grain of rice, with pointed ends. Roof rat droppings are larger, around half an inch long. Check under sinks, in pantries, along garage walls, behind appliances and in the attic.
2. Noises at night
Rodents are most active after dark. Scratching, scurrying or gnawing sounds in the ceiling or walls, especially in the evening or early morning, often point to roof rats in the attic.
3. Gnaw marks and damage
Rodent teeth never stop growing, so they chew constantly: food packaging, cardboard, wood, insulation and even electrical wiring, which is a real fire risk. Fresh gnaw marks look light in color and rough.
4. Partly eaten fruit
If you have citrus or avocado trees and find oranges hollowed out while still hanging on the tree, that is a classic roof rat sign. Fallen fruit, bird feeders and pet food left outside all help feed a rat population.
5. Rub marks, nests and odors
Rodents follow the same paths along walls and leave greasy smudges where their fur rubs. You may also find nests made of shredded paper, fabric or insulation, or notice a stale, musky smell in closed spaces. Pets suddenly fixated on one spot in a wall or cabinet are another clue.
How to clean up droppings safely
Rodent droppings and urine can spread disease, so don't sweep or vacuum them. That can put particles into the air. The CDC recommends this approach:
Open doors and windows and let the area air out for 30 minutes before you start.
Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
Spray droppings and urine with a disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) until soaked, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Wipe up with paper towels, throw them away in a covered trash can, then disinfect the area.
Wash your gloved hands, remove the gloves, then wash your hands with soap and warm water.
How they get in
A mouse can squeeze through a gap about the size of a dime, and a rat through a gap about the size of a quarter. Common entry points include roof and attic vents, gaps where pipes and wires enter the house, garage door seals, and spots where tree branches touch the roof.
Traps and bait alone won't solve the problem if the openings stay open. That's why Skyline pairs rodent control with exclusion: we find and seal the entry points, then use tamper-resistant bait stations around the outside of the home to keep the population down.
Get help before it grows
If you've spotted any of these signs, the sooner you act, the easier it is to fix. Skyline's Preferred and Supreme plans include exterior rodent bait stations serviced at every visit, and rodent exclusion can be added to any plan. Call 1-888-RID-MY-BUGS or request a free quote.
