Your Bristol home is meant to be your sanctuary, the place where you can feel relaxed and at ease. What you don’t expect is to share your home with pests that may cause damage or even health risks. Unfortunately, that is exactly the issue that a mouse or rat infestation can pose. These unwanted houseguests can quickly cause havoc in the home, especially if you ignore the early warning signs.

So, what are the signs to watch for? Here are three of the most common signs that you may have a mouse or rat problem in your home.

You See Fresh or Old Droppings

There is no mistaking this sign for something else. If you see rat or mouse droppings in your house, you’ve for sure got an active infestation. Typically, the more droppings you see, the bigger the problem is. What you may not know is that mice can drop up to 80 times per day. Just imagine how quickly that will accumulate in your house. It also means that it’s hard to miss if you know where to look.

Some of the most common places that you’ll find droppings in the house include:

  • Near food packages
  • In cupboards
  • In drawers
  • Along walls
  • Under sinks
  • In hidden areas around the house

In terms of health risks, it is the faeces that can spread diseases such as Leptospirosis, HPS, plague, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and typhus.

You Hear Sounds Coming from the Walls or Ceiling

Strange sounds, mostly at night, in the walls or ceiling, can be another sign that you have an active infestation. Rodents are notoriously nocturnal which means they are active during the night. It’s common to hear them scratching and even gnawing inside the walls. Not only can this be destructive but it’s also dangerous if they start chewing on wires.

There are Signs of Chewing Around the Home

Speaking of gnawing, they can also leave behind evidence on walls, floors, floorboards, doors, door frames, food packaging and cupboards. It will look like small holes or bite marks, which is proof that something has been chewed.

What Should You Do?

If these signs all sound familiar it’s best to be overly cautious and have the problem checked out by a professional. Ignoring a mouse or rat infestation in your home can quickly spiral out of control, making it much harder to get rid of them. Finding the best pest control in Bristol should be the top priority so you can address the issue immediately. Pest control in Bristol may also include rodent-proofing the home so that they don’t return.

Don’t Sleep on a Possible Infestation

The key takeaway is to be alert in your home. Watch for any potential signs that you may have a rat or mouse problem so you can get on it immediately. Infestation is not only bad for your house but also for your health, so it’s not an issue you want to ignore. It’s also not the kind of thing you can treat on your own and expect permanent results. The professionals have the right knowledge, tools and products to get the job done.