Rodents are no stranger to Kansas City residents. It is not uncommon to find mice, rats, squirrels, and/or other rodents inside your home. These critters can be a nuisance and cause damage to your home and health. It is important to check common possible rodent nesting areas within your home and to call the professionals at Critter Control of Kansas City Metro if you find rodents in your home.
Why are Rodents Entering My Home?
Rodents have similar needs to humans— food, water, and shelter. Your home offers all these resources and at great comfort. The warmness of an attic or chimney can sound like a beach vacation for a rodent. In spring, your home seems like the perfect place to raise a rodent family, resulting in many rodents building nests and housing their babies. Rodents can get a free meal from your pantry or open garbage cans. Not to mention a nice cold drink of water from a leaky faucet, pipe, or pet bowl.
How do rodents get into your home?
Now that you know why rodents are entering your home, it is important to understand how they are getting in, so you can put efforts in to prevent them. Rodents can enter your home through various means, including gaps, cracks, holes, and open windows and doors.
- Gaps and Cracks: Rodents often enter through small gaps, cracks, or holes in the walls, foundation, roof, or attic of your home. Rodents are expert squeezers and can manage to fit through an opening the size of a quarter.
- Entry Points: Another common way rodents gain entrance to your home is through open doors and windows. Rodents may use long tree branches close to your windows or that overhang your roof or deck to easily gain access to these entry points.
Where do rodents go in your home?
Rodents will choose various shelter and nesting sites in your home. Their choice may depend on a variety of factors including the type of rodent, the layout of your home, the availability of food and water, and the activity in your home. Here are some common places rodents may choose to go in your home:
- Walls and Ceilings: Rodents may use the cavities of your wall or ceilings as pathways and nesting sites. While they occupy these spaces they may chew through insulation or wiring, causing serious damage.
- Attics: Attics provide a warm and quiet area for rodents, especially during the colder months, when they may use insulation to create their nests.
- Basements and Crawl Spaces: These areas are attractive to rodents because they often have hidden nooks and crannies for rodents to hide in. Rodents may also burrow into the soil in crawl spaces.
- Garages and Sheds: Rodents are able to very easily access garages and sheds due to their locations. Cluttered storage areas offer additional hiding spots.
- Kitchen and Pantry: Rodents are attracted to food sources making kitchens and pantries a prime location for rodents in your home. They may hide in cabinets, behind appliances, or in pantry shelves.
Signs of Rodent Infestation – How to Tell if Rodents Are in Your Home:
There are multiple signs to tell if rodents are living rent-free in your home, here are a few:
You see…
Droppings.
Rodent droppings are a clear indication of rodents living in your home. They vary in size depending on the species, but our generally small and pellet-like. Fresh droppings appear darker in color and become lighter as they sit and age.
Gnaw Marks.
Rodents constantly gnaw on things to keep their teeth from growing too long. One way to tell if rodents are in your home is if you see gnaw marks on wires, furniture, walls, and/or food packaging.
Nesting Materials.
Rodents will use anything soft they can get their hands on to make a nest in a hidden area in your home. These materials can include shredded paper, fabric, insulation, and other materials. Look for these materials in corners, attics, closets, and crawl spaces.
Grease Marks.
Rodents have oil fur that can leave grease marks along their frequently traveled paths. If you see these marks on your walls, baseboards, and/or floorboards then you most likely have rodents living in your home.
Visible Rodents.
The easiest way and most common way Kansas City residents can tell if rodents are in their homes is by visibly seeing them run around.
You hear…
Scratching, scurrying, or squeaking.
A common sign of rodent infestation is hearing noises coming from walls, ceilings, or hidden spaces, especially at night.
Your pet going crazy.
If your pet suddenly starts displaying heightened interest in certain areas or exhibits unusual behavior like pawing or barking at walls, there might be rodents present.
You smell…
Unpleasant scents.
Rodents can exert strong unpleasant and pungent odors that can be noticeable, especially in enclosed spaces. These scents mostly come from their droppings and urine.
If you find rodents in your home, it’s important to remove them as quickly as possible to prevent further damage or health risks.
How Can I Protect My Home?
The best way to protect your home is to call the professionals at Critter Control of Kansas City Metro. We specialize in rodent control and removal. Not only will our experts safely and humanely remove the rodents from your Kansas City home, but they will seal all entry points and put preventative solutions in place. Call Kansas: 913.912.8985 or Missouri: 816.654.6922 and schedule your home inspection today!
There are several precautions you can put into place to prevent or limit rodents access to your home. Here are our suggestions:
- Inspect your home and yard for potential entry points, such as gaps in your roof, foundation, or vents. Seal any openings to prevent animals from entering your home.
- Keep your attic and home clean and free from debris and clutter. Rodents like to use shredded paper, insulation, old clothing, and other materials to build nests.
- Store food and pet food in sealed plastic or glass containers to prevent rodents from being able to chew through cardboard or eat your food. Use trash cans with lids to prevent rodents from getting into your trash.
- Fix any leaky pipes or faucets. Not only will this save you money, but it will also prevent rodents from having access to free water.
It is important to remove rodents at the first sight of them in your home. They can cause structural damage to your home by ruining insulation, chewing through wires, or putting your family in risk for serious diseases. Rodent feces can carry a number of dangerous diseases, it is important that only professionals manage rodent removal and clean up. Call Critter Control of Kansas City Metro and get rid of rodents for good today!