A mouse in the house isn’t the end of the world. Luckily, there are plenty of steps and preventative measures homeowners can take to keep mice out. It’ll soon be obvious if there’s a mouse in the home. Here are seven signs you have a mouse in your home.
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A nest is a definite sign of a mouse. After all, it’s where they tuck in after a day’s work. You’ll spot a mice nest in a dark, quiet, rarely disturbed area of the home. Storage areas, attics, and sheltered locations are popular spots. The nest is arranged in a loose pile, and it’s made of grasses, leaves, and wood shavings. If you’ve spotted a pile of these materials in a dusty corner, you’ve likely found a nest.
Finding mice poop in the home is another one of those immediate signs you have a mouse. These little critters poop a lot, so expect to find a scattering of pellets, particularly in areas where there’s food or they’re breeding. Mice don’t poop in a consistent pattern. They leave a mess of dark, small, and rectangular-shaped pellets in one large area. Darker colour indicates fresher droppings.
Check your attic for torn or missing insulation. This goes hand-in-hand with their nest, as insulation is a popular material that mice like to use for building their bed. They love the warmth and security it provides.
Missing insulation means it’s time to put a stop to the mouse infestation. The problem with ripped insulation is that it compromises your home’s heating. If you find yourself reaching for the thermostat, it could be because of a lack of insulation in the walls, along with a very warm mouse in the home.
Pet owners may have noticed some unusual behaviour in their furry family members. Cats and dogs hear and sense things humans cannot, and they may have noticed new houseguests sooner than you.
If they’re acting out of character, such as barking at dark corners at dark corners, pawing at low pieces of furniture, and appearing hyper alert, don’t ignore it. This is one of the signs you have a mouse. Pets react this way because the critter is nearby, but just out of reach for them to get at.
Mice are constantly chewing. Furniture, trim, wall, and floorboards are all likely victims to a mouse’s chewing habits, in addition to favourite spots such as wood and drywall. Their incisors don’t stop growing, and the constant gnawing keeps teeth trim.
Take an extra look at any papers left out or cardboard boxes in the pantry. You may have noticed ripped edges: it’s not torn by accident, it’s likely a mouse taking a bite. While mice gnaw marks aren’t big, they result in damage that needs to be fixed.
Mice hair is unexpectedly (but very) oil, and this translates to a grease mark on their usual travel passageways. As they run along walls and brush up along corners, they leave a dark stain behind. It’s distinctive when it’s new, resulting in a noticeable smudge mark. Mice rarely venture off track, so you’ll spot these marks quickly.
Mice emit a musky odour, and this strong, stale odour increases over time as mice continue to live in the home. When it’s combined with nesting materials, droppings, and urine, it’s going to cause a noticeable and intense smell. Other weird smells could be a result of the unfortunate situation of a mouse trapped in the walls. Getting rid of the stink is going to take a thorough scrub and cleanup.
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