Although pest activity of insects normally decreases during the fall and winter, homeowners need to be on the lookout for signs of rodents such asmice and rats, which then migrate into homes. Preventive measures are needed to avoid rats andmice in housesand apartments. Mice and rats can spread dangerous diseases, contaminate food, trigger allergy symptoms and even bringfleas, ticks and lice into homes. Rodents are also known to damage homesby chewing through insulation, electrical wiring, water pipes and other things.

Here are six common signs of problems with rodents:

1. Waste: Finding mouse or rat droppings around the home is one of the most common signs of rodent infestation. These often leave feces in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or storage rooms, as well as under sinks, inside cardboard boxes, along skirting boards and on top of wall beams.
2. Rodent marks: Rodents can cause serious damage by chewing through almost any type of material — including plastic and lead pipes — to get food or water. House miceand rats are also known to gnaw on wires in walls, sometimes causingwhich can cause house fires.
3. Nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. House mice, specifically, like to build their nests from shredded paper products, cotton, packaging materials, wall insulation and textiles. If you see these materials scattered around the home, it could be a sign that rodents are nearby.
4. Tracks:Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along wallsand floorboards when following a path throughout the home between the nest and food. Keep an eye out for these marks, which are actually caused by the rat’s oily fur.
5. Strange noises: Hearing strange noises in the walls, especially at night, can be a bit worrisome. Chances are these sounds can be attributed to a family of rodents whizzing around the house, between thewalls and upstairs in the attics. Rodents are especially fond of attics because they provide dark, secluded places for building nests.
6. A real rodent: Mice can breed quickly, so if you see one mouse in the house, it’s likely that there are others there as well. In fact, one mouse can give birth to up to 12 cubs in its litter and have 8 litters a year. It quickly becomes a lot of mice.

To prevent rodents from entering, homeowners should seal any structural cracks with a mouse brush or steel wool, since house mice can get in through openings as small as a crown. In addition, keep basements, attics and exteriors around the residence tidy and clean. Store firewood a few feet away from the house and store food in airtight containers, disposing of trash regularly.

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