Key Takeaways

You’ll typically find house mice and Norway rats in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
Rodents get inside through entry points around windows, doors, and any other opening that leads indoors.
Droppings, urine smell, and damage are the most common signs of rodents in your home.
If you find signs of rodents, you need professional intervention right away.

We have several rodents in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, big and small. The big rodents that could get into your home are rats and squirrels. Of the two, rats are the worst because they can get into many places within your home. Squirrels tend to stay in attic spaces. The small rodents are mice.

But not all mice are considered equal. House mice are house rodents. They like to live in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky homes because these mice are somewhat domesticated. They’ve been living off humans for so long that there are currently no known populations of wild mice in the world.

It’s difficult to get a house rodent out of your home. If house mice or house rats (also known as roof rats) get inside, they will want to stay permanently. These animals can live in your home without making any detectable noises. If they stay long enough, they can expose your family to sickness and damage your property. The worst outcome of a rodent infestation is a house fire from mice and rats chewing on wires and gas lines.

Jump to Signs:

Rodent Droppings
Gnaw Marks
Nests
Tracks (or Rub Marks)
Strange Noises
An Actual Rodent
Scent of Urine
Damage

Rodent Droppings

When these animals get into your home, they’re not going to go outside to use the restroom. They will leave their droppings and urine everywhere as they roam. This is one of the reasons it is so bad to have a rodent infestation. Rodent waste creates conditions for human sickness.

But that waste can help you detect rodent activity in your home if the rodents are being quiet, which is usually the case. Mice and rats don’t typically bump and thump inside your bedroom walls as you’re going to sleep. They prefer to be close to food sources and are more likely to create a nest in a wall void near the kitchen or pantry.

These places are the first places you should search for droppings:

The cabinet under your kitchen sink. If you see tiny black droppings that are between 3mm and 9mm long, you probably have a rodent infestation.
Underneath kitchen appliances. If possible, pull your oven out of its place and look behind it.
The backs of your kitchen drawers and cabinets. It is possible for rodents to climb up into the backs of drawers when they are not sealed. It is also possible for a rodent to chew through the back of a sealed drawer or cabinet.
The backs of kitchen and pantry food shelves.
Behind washers and dryers. This tends to be an area of high moisture. Also, mice and rats tend to get into homes through dryer exhaust vents.
The insulation in your attic space. While your attic is far from your kitchen or pantry, it might be an ideal location for mice and rats to live. Attics are secluded spaces, and mice and rats prefer to live where they are not going to be disturbed.

Gnaw Marks

Rodents have teeth that never stop growing. To keep them short, mice and rats must constantly chew on things.

You might find gnaw marks on wood furniture, baseboards, food packages, or electrical wires. Fresh gnaw marks look lighter in color and feel rough when you touch them. Older marks turn darker and feel smoother.

So check your pantry for chewed boxes or bags. This is often where homeowners first spot gnaw damage.

Nests

Mice and rats use whatever soft materials they can find (shredded paper, fabric, insulation, or dried grass) for their nests.

Look for these nests in hidden spots like behind appliances, inside walls, in attics, or under cabinets. If you find a nest, don’t touch it with your bare hands.

Tracks (or Rub Marks)

Rodents are creatures of habit. They use the same paths night after night, leaving signs behind.

In dusty areas, you might see tiny footprints or tail drag marks. Mice leave tracks about ¾ inch long, while rat tracks are about an inch long.

Along walls, look for dark, greasy rub marks. These marks come from oil and dirt on the rodent’s fur. The darker the mark, the longer rodents have been using that path. You’ll often find these marks along baseboards or near holes in walls.

Strange Noises

At night, when your Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky home is quiet, you might hear rodents moving around. Listen for scratching sounds in walls or ceilings. You might also hear squeaking, especially if there are baby mice.

Scurrying or running noises in the attic often mean squirrels, while sounds in the walls usually point to mice or rats. Don’t ignore these noises. The longer rodents stay in your home, the more damage they cause.

An Actual Rodent

Sometimes you’ll spot the rodent itself.

Mice are more common to see because they’re curious and might come out during the day if they’re hungry. If you see one mouse, you probably have more. Mice rarely live alone. Rats are more careful and usually only come out at night. A rat sighting during the day could mean you have a serious infestation.

Seeing dead rodents is another clear sign. If you find a dead mouse or rat, wear gloves to remove it and call a professional.

Scent Of Urine

When mice or rats move about in your Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky home, you may smell the faint (or not so faint) scent of urine. The more rodents you have, the stronger the scent.

As a small mouse or a big rat moves about inside your home, it will leave droplets of urine. One reason for this is that rodents use their noses to navigate. They’re able to smell their way from one place to another. This is necessary because they often move around in pitch dark environments.

Damage

Rodents cause damage in many ways. If you see damage and recognize it as rodent damage, it can help you determine that you have a rodent infestation. Here are a few examples:

Holes in exterior door and window frames. Rodents and carpenter ants are typically the only pests that create obvious holes in wood frames. If you find a small hole about the size of a dime, this is an indication of a mouse infestation. If the hole is larger than a quarter, it could be a rat hole.
Once inside your rodents go inside your home, rodents don’t stop creating holes in building materials. They may create a small hole in a baseboard to access food storage areas. These are likely to be hidden under cabinet overhangs or behind appliances. Get down low and use a flashlight to find them.
Mice and rats get into stored foods. If you find packages with holes chewed in them, rodents may be to blame. The larger the hole, the more likely rodents are the culprits. Inspect all your stored foods.
Mice and rats can damage stored items such as furniture and cardboard boxes. Use a flashlight to closely examine items in storage.

What To Do When You Find Rodents

If you live in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, Action Pest Control can help with effective rodent control in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. These pests are harmful to have in your home, and you don’t want to take chances with your health and property.

Reach out to us today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

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