Rodent infestation is one of the primary reasons why life-threatening diseases and infections spread from rodents to human beings. Leading cities like New York, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles are some of the cities with the highest rate of rodent infestation. One of the safest and most effective ways to deal with such an infestation is intelligent rodent control in Los Angeles.
Negligence to a rat infestation situation at home can spread deadly diseases like internal parasites, rat bite fever, bubonic plague (back fever), hantavirus, and many more. One needs to determine if their home is infested with fats. If one notices rats in the nighttime but never during the daytime, it means fewer rats. However, if one notices faecal droppings, gnaw marks, or rats in the daytime, it means there’s a considerable number of rats present.
This article will take you on a brief tour of various signs of a rodent infestation so you can take effective precautions at the right time.
There Are Fecal Droppings All Over The Place
One of the most prevalent signs of a rat infestation in one’s home is finding faecal droppings in places. Rat droppings tend to be moist and dark when fresh and become grey and old over time. The dropping might even fall into pieces in an attempt to move.
Some of the most common places one can find these faecal droppings are near opened food packages, inside drawers or cupboards, under sinks in the kitchen, bathroom, or basements, in secluded places, or even along the walls.
One must note that they are likely to find the highest number of faecal droppings in an area highly infested by rats. Hence, one must extensively inspect the area. One must also determine if the faecal droppings are fresh or old. This aids in knowing if the infestation is active or new.
There Are Gnaw Marks On Items
Another obvious sign of rat infestation is finding gnaw marks on items like food packets, walls, clothes, or furniture. Unlike the faecal droppings of a rat, gnaw marks tend to be lighter when fresh. However, over time, these marks tend to get darker in colour.
One of the simplest ways to determine the duration of a gnaw mark is to compare it with a previous gnaw mark. Doing so will aid in knowing if the infestation is a consistent one. Additionally, one can know if the infestation is due to rats or mice. If the gnaw marks tend to be larger, they can only be caused by a larger set of teeth of rats. If the gnaw marks are smaller, they can only be caused by mice.
However, if one used to notice signs of a mouse infestation but is witnessing larger gnaw marks, they are likely to have a rat infestation in their home.
There Is An Unpleasant Odor In The House
Another excellent indicator of a rodent infestation is the foul, unpleasant whiff that spreads in the home as soon as a rat enters. The urine of a rat causes this smell. One is likely to experience a rancid ammonia-like odour from secluded or isolated areas if there is an active and large rat infestation.
The smell of an active infestation is radically different from that of a dead rat. The odour of a dead rat is a strong, sharp pungent smell which also tends to be sour simultaneously.
There Are Traces And Pathways In Hidden Areas
One can easily notice traces of rats or their pathways if there is an active infestation in their home. These traces and pathways tend to fade away as time passes by. Hence, the most effective way to investigate the tracks of a rat is to use a flashlight or a blacklight.
One needs to direct the light at an angle towards the suspicious area to look for any signs of tracks like smudgy marks, footprints, faecal droppings, stains of urine, and many more. If a flashlight is not enough to notice the tracks, one can use powders like baby powder or flour. This will aid in seeing the traces of the rats in the powder.
There Are Formations Of Nest In Your Home
Just like any living animal, rodents also tend to build a home. Rats build their home in the form of a nest. To build a nest, rodents use items like newspapers, torn-off fabrics, or sun-dried plant leaves.
If one notices an accumulation of such items in their home, it might indicate that rats live there. However, if one also finds other signs like tracks, faecal dropping, gnaw marks, etc., along with the nests, it is a solid indicator of a rat infestation in their home.
There Are Squeaky Noises In The House
Another excellent indicator of a rat infestation is the squeaky noises of rats. When there is no noise at night, one can hear some scratching noises. One might hear the rats running down the floors, dashing in the cabinets or kitchen, or digging a hole behind a wall or under a table. One is also likely to experience a low, muffled squeaking at night.
If one tends to have a pet at home, like a cat or dog, then the pet is likely to notice such sounds. If you find your pet following the sounds, pay attention to the places they are taking you. It could be the areas like hidden walls, bases of cabinets, under the base of an appliance, etc., where rats dwell.
Conclusion
Dealing with an active rat infestation at home can be a challenging task. It is best to seek help from pest control or rodent control companies to deal with such an infestation safely and effectively. With the help of the above-mentioned indicators, one can easily determine if they have an active rodent infestation at their home. One must try to keep their home clean and tidy at all times. Rats are always attracted to places where they can find food, water, and shelter.
