Anyone who has found evidence of a rat or mouse in their home likely understands the sudden anxiety that this discovery can bring. Knowing that you will have to deal with this problem quickly and spend time and effort on the solution can feel overwhelming, especially if you donāt know how to tackle aĀ rodent invasion. However, some homeowners are tempted to leave the issue as-is. After all, itās just one mouse, right?
Unfortunately, rodent infestations typically spread quickly, and even a few days of delay can mean the difference between a simple problem and a full-blown invasion. In order to stop rodents in their tracks, you need to understand just how quickly an infestation can occur, why the rodents multiply so quickly, and what you can do to interrupt this reproductive cycle.
Signs You Have a Rodent Infestation
The first step in stopping rodents from taking over your home is to identify that there is a problem. Itās often not as simple as spotting a mouse or rat (although it can be!). More commonly, these pests will leave signs of their presence.
They usually come out at night when the cover of darkness can shield them from the eyes of humans and pets. If you wake up each morning to discover things not as they were, you might have rodents rifling through your items at night.
Food items on the counter that have been nibbled on, plastic or cardboard packaging with chew marks in the pantry, and even unusual smells can indicate a mouse or rat problem. You may hear them in the walls or attic as they move within the constrained safety of these secluded places. However, droppings are one of the most common signs of a rodent problem.
Rodent droppings are usually cylindrical in shape with a tapered end. They can be found in greatest abundance near walls and up against furniture because the rodents do not like to cross the open space in the center of a room. Instead, they walk along hard surfaces to provide protection.
The Life Cycle of Rats and Mice
Once rats and mice find food and shelter in your home, it can take just a few weeks for one pest to multiply into a horde. Itās not because they leave the home to tell their friends. Itās because they reproduce so quickly. Suppose a pregnant mouse entered your home and found a safe place to nest.
Once she gives birth to the pups (up to eight of them), sheāll care for them for a little while, and then theyāll go out on their own. Less than a month later, she could give birth again, and after a few more weeks, so could her female babies. If half of her litter were female, this is now four additional females who can produce eight babies each for 32 babies, of whom 16 are female, producing 128 babies, and so on.
Rats enjoy a similar lifecycle, except that they produce up to 11 babies per litter. This allows them to spread just as efficiently as mice, and a home can contain both simultaneously. Thatās hundreds of rodents after just a few weeks!
How to Stop a Rodent Invasion
If you believe your home is infested with rodents, there are a few things you can do to kick them out:
Remove food and water sources: Rodents must eat regularly because of their fast metabolism. If they cannot access food easily, they may abandon your home in order to search for a more hospitable place to live. Store any edible items in glass containers. Remember that rodents can climb, so simply moving them to a higher shelf is not sufficient!- Destroy or block off shelter: If rodents do not feel safe, they may leave. If you notice rat or mouse nests, remove them and block the path back to that location.
- Seal rodent entry points into the home: Rodents cannot infest a home if they canāt get in! Walk around the home and identify any areas where they may be entering from outside: gaps near piping, cracks in brick, etc. Rats can fit through extremely small holes (around half an inch), so entry points may be smaller than you think.
Call the Pros to Clear Your House of Pests
If you are facing a rodent infestation, it is essential to deal with the issue before it worsens exponentially. Trusting the pros to remove all mice and rats the first time is the only way; otherwise, any remaining rodents will simply repopulate. Contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control to tackle your invasion as soon as you notice it and before rats and mice can find a foothold in your home.
