Once you become aware of an infestation of rodents in your home, your first instinct is probably to find out about rat removal in Waterloo. Unfortunately, it is not always completely clear whether you have an infestation or not. Rats and mice are active primarily at night, so you may not see them in your home at all.

Even if you only suspect that you have an infestation, it is a good idea to call Truly Nolen for an evaluation. Nevertheless, rodents leave behind clues of their presence, and if you pay attention, you may be able to determine whether you have an infestation even if you do not see any rodents. Look for the following signs. 

1. Nests

A pretty obvious visible sign of a rodent infestation is a nest. However, you may not see these out in the open as rodents are more likely to make their nests in hidden places, such as wall voids or unfinished attics. If you see a small pile of dried plant matter, shredded paper, or fabric, chances are good that it is a rodent nest. 

2. Runways or Tracks

Mice and rats tend to follow the same routes to get from place to place in your home. Their eyesight is poor, so they like to move along the walls rather than come right out in the open. You may see smudge marks along the walls from their oily fur. If you look carefully, you may see their footprints. They may require the help of a blacklight or a flashlight held at an angle to identify. To confirm the presence of rodents, you can sprinkle some baby powder or flour in the area where you think their runways are before going to bed at night. If the rodents are present, they will probably run through the powder and leave clear tracks behind for you to find in the morning. 

3. Odours

Rodents are known for frequent and indiscriminate urination when they are active in a house. This can be dangerous because their urine can spread diseases, but it can also be helpful in trying to identify if you have an infestation. If you have rats and mice, you may perceive a strong smell of ammonia from their urine. If this smell is present where you think you see rodent tracks, this can help to prove your suspicions, though you may want to carry out the powder test anyway for confirmation. 

The smell of rodent urine may not be immediately obvious to you. Dogs and cats have much more sensitive olfactory senses than humans, and they may be aware of the presence of rodents by the smell of their urine before you do. Pay attention if your pet starts excitedly pawing at an area where it previously had shown no interest. 

4. Droppings

Even if you do not smell the rodents’ urine, you may see their droppings along their runways, under sinks, near food packages, or in cupboards or drawers. They look like small, dark, grains of rice. The age of the droppings tells you whether you have a current infestation or if the rodents have departed and left their droppings behind. Older droppings crumble more easily and are grayish in colour. Fresh droppings have a moist appearance and are a darker shade. 

You are most likely to find droppings in the places where the rodents feed or where they make their nest. Therefore, if you do not find an obvious source of food near the droppings, look around for the telltale signs of a rodent nest. 

Rat Removal in Waterloo From Truly Nolen

Truly Nolen is an international network of experienced and qualified pest control technicians. Call us to assess your rodent problem and determine a course of action.