Identifying Your Rodent Problem
Before eliminating your pest problem it is important to know what exactly you are dealing with
, before choosing which pest control products to use. Luckily different types of rodent are easily identifiable by following the guide laid out.
Droppings
Examining rodent droppings isnt the most pleasant task but it is the most effective way to identify your pest problem. Faecal pellets are a common sign of a rodent infestation. It can be alarming at the volume of droppings left by even the smallest population of rodents, but the truth is that a single mouse can excrete as many as 75 droppings per day. Two of the most common household pests are mice and rats, but cockroach droppings can also be easily confused. Droppings have distinctive differences and can be identified easily.
House Mice
Size: roughly 5mm long
Quantity: 50 to 75 pellets daily
Shape: Small rod shape with one or both ends pointed. Resembles the shape of a grain of rice but smaller in size
Fresh droppings will be soft and moist
Common places to find mouse droppings are around central heating boilers, inside roof spaces, around heating insulation and under kitchen sinks.
Norway Rat
Size: 15mm long
Quantity: 40 to 50 pellets daily
Shape: Larger, cylindrical with blunt ends
Rat droppings are a similar length to a grain of rice only thicker
Found in small groups
Cockroach
Size: Up to 1.5mm
Black and resemble ground coffee. Larger cockroaches leave larger black or brown droppings
Shape: cylindrical with blunt ends but much smaller than rat droppings
Found in small clusters
Gnawing
Both mice and rats gnaw in a similar fashion. Mice will routinely damage plastics, softer woods, corners of cardboard boxes, textiles and wiring. Rats will gnaw the same materials as mice but will also damage floor joists, wall studs and household furniture including harder wood surfaces. Distinguishing between the damage caused by rats and mice is easily identifiable by the size of the hole. A mouse hole will measure between 10-15 mm in diameter and will be a clean-cut shape. A rat hole will be much larger at 5 cm in diameter and the shape will often be rougher and torn.
Nests and burrows
House Mouse
Mice do not tend to burrow. Look out for mice nests, which are often created indoors. Nests are commonly located in corners, in cluttered spaces and in the base of kitchen appliances, especially in warm locations such as near to household heating. Mice will often use shredded paper, string and newspaper to insulate a nest and can chew into pillows, duvet bedding, and mattresses.
Common Rat
Rats burrow into the ground rather than nesting like mice. Rats can chew through concrete and wood and are often located in corners of rooms and are commonly found underneath debris and below floorboards. Indoor burrows are not only unsightly but can threaten the structural integrity of a building so pests should be dealt with quickly to prevent severe structural damage. Cluttered areas attract rodents and internal spaces in a structure, including around water pipes, gas pipes entry holes and behind stoves. Burrows typically measure around 8 cm in diameter but can be larger depending on the size of the infestation.
Other
Runways or Pathways
Rodents will repeatedly use the same route to travel between food sources and their nest. Mice typically will travel between 2-10m from their nests whereas rats will adventure out as far as 30m from their burrows. Usually the nest or burrow can be located within these distances.
Rub Marks
Rats often leave dirt, waste and grease in their paths and will form grimy runways across wall areas that will resemble a smudge mark.
Sounds
Rodents can often be heard at night. You are likely to hear the sound of gnawing, scratching and scurrying. Rats will omit louder noises than mice but one distinct sign of rats is a high-pitched squeak that can sometimes be heard when they fight over food.
Identifying your pest is only the first step to take when you have a potential home infestation. Rodent traps and pest deterrents will often need to be deployed to eradicate a pest. However, it is critical to know what type of infestation you have before choosing a suitable pest control product.
by: Lynne Dickson
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