Does Your Crawl Space Have A Rodent Infestation? | PIERMAN Foundation Repair

Do you believe your home has a rodent problem? Worries about how rodents can transmit diseases that endanger you and your family might just be keeping you on the lookout. If you have seen signs that now have you suspecting, it is important to deal with them as soon as possible.

They’re cunning, so how do you track them down once you believe they’re nearby? They also leave holes in your garments and wooden drawers, as well as grease traces and little footprints. They’ll also cause your pets to go crazy, not to mention they emit a foul odor.

Detecting an infestation is the first step to take, and solidifying a crawl space solution that can keep them out for good should be the next course of action. 

Have You Noticed Any Of These Items In Your Home?

Below we will go through some basic information so you can better determine if you have a rodent infestation:

Droppings

Rodent droppings are perhaps the most obvious evidence that you have an infestation. The number of droppings you find and their condition might indicate the size of the infestation and how long it has been present.

Most droppings are found in cabinets and other areas where food is kept. Look around the droppings to see if you can find any nests. Gray and crumbling droppings have been around for a long time and suggest an old infestation. The ones that are damp and brown suggest a more recent infestation.

Urine Smell

Rodents urinate regularly, so you’ll be able to smell it if your infestation is significant enough. It will have a strong ammonia odor and grow stale and perhaps moldy with time. Naturally, the stronger the odor, the closer you are to the infestation’s source such as a nest. Large infestations will have pillars of urine and other waste packed in heaps.

Clothes with Gnawed Holes

Rodents prefer to make their nests out of pieces of linen and paper. If you find a hole in your beloved sweater, it might be an indication of an infestation. They also have a habit of ripping holes in the insulation. You may have an infestation if you see shredded textile fibers in a particularly dark place.

Desk And Drawer Holes

Rodents are rather clever animals. They will generally gnaw holes in drawers and other wooden furniture to get access to creating a nest. You will discover tiny little holes – just big enough for them to spawn and reside in your cabinets.

Gnawing and Rubbing Marks

Rodents’ small feet produce greasy traces on your wood panels and other spots where they commonly scamper. If the markings are smudged, this may mean they have passed through the region frequently. They chew on furniture and other wooden surfaces in your home, so you’ll notice numerous scratch marks.

Nests

Rodents enjoy constructing nests. As mentioned above, they shred paper and other fibers for construction materials. They can be found in dark spots throughout your house, such as empty closets, crawl spaces, and even beneath appliances.

Check under your refrigerator, inside hollow walls, basements, and any place there’s a concealed fissure. Check the droppings in the surrounding area to see if the nest is still active.

Unusual Sounds

Rodents are loud, nocturnal critters, so you’ll most likely hear them at night. Coming out for their nighttime eating and nesting supplies is a very active time for them. If you suspect an infestation, listen for tiny scratching noises in the walls, under your floors, and in your attic at night.

Animal Behavior

When you have rats in your house, your pets notice it and will act differently. Your cat or dog will become much more attentive and may even search aggressively for them. You can use a flashlight to look for evidence of rodents in places where your pets are meowing, barking, or pawing. Doing this on their cues might increase your chances of success, especially if the pet was previously uninterested in the region beforehand.

Runways

Rodents will have a clear trail to follow as they search for food and construction materials. Referring to the paths they take as “runways”, you’ll find traces of grease and nibbled materials. These runways are most commonly seen around walls, building foundations, pipelines, electrical cables, and ledges.

Mice

Rodents are normally nocturnal, although they may become daring and venture out during the day to survey the landscape of your home. If you see one during the day, this is a strong indication that the infestation is growing and becoming more comfortable making their home inside of yours! This can mean the infection is widespread.

If you see one during the day, you should start hunting for them as soon as possible so you can trace them back to their nest and eradicate the infestation. Looking for many of the signs mentioned above on this list will help solidify your findings.

Symptoms of a Rodent Infestation

Nobody likes to share their home with rats. They can transmit infections to you and your family. When you suspect they are present, you must begin looking for them to put a stop to their growth patterns and the destruction they can cause.

Examine your inside walls for droppings, fibers that they may have pulled up for a nest, and oil smudges. Also, keep an ear out for strange scratching noises: remember, observing your pet’s behavior can assist you in your searching.

A local exterminator can assist in containing the rodent infestation before it becomes uncontrollable. They will not only get rid of the bothersome critters but also block entryways so they do not return.

How To Protect My Crawl Space?

Choosing to get help from a professional waterproofer like PIERMAN Foundation Repair which specializes in crawl space encapsulation can help. By blocking off your crawl space from moisture and other elements, including rodents, the space underneath your house can be protected for decades! Give us a call today at (580) 453-0330.