How much harm can a small mouse cause? Mice are invasive animals that don’t have a reputation for being scary, but mice in the home come with serious risks. Mice carry diseases that can make you sick, they can destroy your home, they’ll eat anything, and they multiply very fast. A mouse in the house can also come with somepricy repairsif the problem gets out of control. Fortunately, there are several signs that come with mice in the home. Here are 11 signs you have a mouse in your house.
1. Droppings
Mice tend to leave their droppings overnight and it’s a good idea to become familiar with their distinctive features. Signs you have a mouse include spotting droppings that are small, dark, 3-8mm in length, and found along skirting or on cupboard tops.
2. Urine
Evidence of staining or urine in areas you suspect might be host to a mouse is another clue that the animal is in your house and living comfortably. In situations with heavier infestations, body grease, dirt, and urine collect into urine pillars that are another distinct sign of mice’s presence.
3. Chewed Insulation
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that mice cause all sorts of potential damage to your home. If you notice that your fibreglass insulation looks chewed or torn, then that’s a sign that mice are using your home as theirs.
4. Scratching Noises
Do you hear scurrying in the walls or ceiling? Do you notice scratching noises at night? Mice are nocturnal creatures who don’t make a lot of noise, but the scratching of their small feet are a big giveaway to their presence in your house.
5. Tracks or Footprints
If you notice that dusty areas have small footprints in them or if you notice streaks of grease low along the walls, then these are physical signs you have a mouse moving through your home.
6. Old Nests
If you find an old mouse nest in your home, don’t write it off as a thing of the past. Whether or not the nest is currently in use, evidence that mice once lived in your house only tells you that there is some sort of entry point that is being exploited.
7. Strong Smell
Strong ammonia-like smells are evidence of the urine that mice leave behind. Mice are known to urinate frequently and often, so if you notice any unusual smells, take note.
8. Live Mice
It goes without saying that seeing a mouse is a sign that you have one in your house. But this can go for outside your home, too. Mice in and around the boundaries of your home, or even in the garage, imply that these small creatures might have found a way in.
9. Dead Mice
No one wants to be in the middle of a home cleanup and find a dead mouse either in the walls or behind some furniture. While the sight can be quite shocking, a dead mouse doesn’t mean that there are no live ones. Dead mice are evidence that there’s an entry point that could become active again soon.
10. Shredded Cloth or Paper
Mice are nesting creatures that look for soft things in their environment like rags, cardboard, or paper, which are ideal nesting materials. If you notice shredded cloth or paper, then that’s a sign you have a mouse in your house.
11. Crumbs in the Cupboard
Mice are notorious snackers. If you’re noticing that some of your packaging in your cupboard is being chewed through, and crumbs are being left behind, then it’s likely that mice are helping themselves to your food. By following these clues and familiarizing yourself with the behaviors of mice, you can be proactive about their presence in your home and deal with it ASAP.
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