Rodent problems can get out of control fast. One of the reasons why the infestations grow so quickly is that mice and rats are very good at staying hidden. They tend to occupy undisturbed areas of a home and only emerge at night to seek food and nesting materials.
If you suspect your home might have a rodent infestation, here are some of the first places you should look for signs of rats and mice.
Mice and rats are drawn to the smell of food in the kitchen. An easy place for them to get food is straight from your cabinets or pantry, where they can chew through bags and packages to get to the goodies inside.
Your major appliances tend to give off a cozy warmth that rodents can find very appealing. Plus, in the tiny spaces under, behind, and next to your refrigerator and range, they can’t be caught easily by you or your pets, and there are typically some crumbs nearby to munch on.
Rats and mice can easily chew a hole into the side of a cardboard box and convert it into a home. They’ll opt for boxes in low-traffic areas, such as the attic, the basement, the back of a closet, or an undisturbed corner of a garage.
While it’s unlikely that a mouse will make a nest for itself in your favorite armchair that you use daily, rodents may take advantage of furniture that’s being stored in your basement or attic. They might also burrow inside cushioned outdoor furniture when the weather gets cold.
Living inside walls provides rodents with two key advantages:
You’re most likely to find mice or rats in your walls close to a heat source, such as a furnace or water heater. Rodents usually enter walls by finding a gap or by chewing an opening to squeeze through in the drywall or baseboard. They can eventually enter your home’s ductwork, causing your indoor air to smell like ammonia and increasing your household’s risk of contracting diseases like hantavirus.
This is another typically undisturbed area that provides rodents with a hiding place during the day. You may be especially at risk for rats and mice in this area if water is leaking under the sink, as the moisture will provide the rodents with something to drink.
Even though we use our closets daily, we rarely rifle through the entire space from top to bottom. There’s usually more than enough clutter for rodents to find a hiding spot. Plus, there’s plenty of fabric to use for nest-building material. Remember: it pays to protect your clothes!
Mice are rats are experts when it comes to finding warm, cozy places to hide. It’s no surprise that once they invade a home, they quickly discover that the insulation is a great place to hide from chilly temperatures. Unfortunately, rodents can destroy insulation in short order by tearing it, chewing it, ripping it apart, and urinating on it.
Rats and mice aren’t only destructive: they can also put your family’s health at risk. At Horizon Pest Control, we have been trusted rodent exterminators in New Jersey and New York since 1970. When you need a rodent problem taken care of for good, you can rest assured that we have the experience, equipment, and commitment to service to get the job done.
Contact Horizon Pest Control for superior rodent control services today: (201) 447-2530.
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