Signs of Mice and Rat Infestation

The day is done, and you’ve settled into bed, ensuring your alarm is ready for tomorrow morning… you’re almost asleep when you hear it. The scratch, scratch, scratch of little skittering feet. Suddenly, sleep seems pointless until you discover the source of the sound – it’s unsettling after all, and you’ve been hearing it every night for the last little while. You know it’s not coming from outside, but every time you open the bedroom door and glance around, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Everything is exactly where it should be. At Canberra Pest Control, we hear some version of this story multiple times a week, as Australia’s greatest break-and-enter racket establish nest after nest in wall cavities and roof recesses. We’re talking about mice and rats, of course.

So how do you know if you’ve got a rat problem? What are some of the most common signs of mice to watch out for? Find out everything you need to know below and become rodent aware.

Rat and Mice Droppings

Rats and mice like to leave little poop presents in place of the food they steal; unsuspecting people often find them rolling around in drawers, under sinks or at the back of cupboards. The average mouse produces up to 100 of these brown pellets per day, so while one or two may suggest a lone rodent scoping out your home or office, several in different places could signal the late stages of a full-scale infestation.

Rodent 101: What does rat poop look like?

While mice droppings resemble brown grains of rice, rat poop is significantly larger with rounded ends.

Holes in walls or Floors

Rodents are big fans of direct access, so they’ll put their sharp teeth to work, chewing through wood, brickwork and plasterboard to gain on-demand entry into your home. From here, they’ll find somewhere to nest, usually within your walls, ensuring they keep out of sight and warm until you leave for work, go on holiday or go to bed.

Signs of Mice and Rats in Cavity Walls

As we’ve mentioned, there’s nothing rodents love more than setting up camp in your hollow walls, often playing havoc with internal wiring in the process. If you hear squeaking, scratching and rapid movement in your lounge room walls while watching late-night TV, you’re probably sharing your home with a family of mice or rats. Sometimes both!

Chewed packets and missing paper, fabric or plant matter>

Plastic packaging is no match for sharp teeth and determined little claws. Mice and rats aren’t afraid to get their whiskers dirty, shearing through all kinds of materials to get to their next meal. If you notice shredded or missing paper; newly torn or patchy clothes, or pot plants missing a handful of soil and leaves, you definitely have a rodent problem on your hands – all of the above are common nesting materials, making for a soft, snuggly base for a new generation of rodents.

Rodent 101: How long mice live?

Mice and rats can live up to 2 years in an environment supported by people. Provided they have access to a protected place to sleep, a daily dose of crumbs and water, you won’t be saying seeya to your house or office mouse (and their whole family) unless you call in the experts.