Warning Signs Rodents Leave Behind And Why Oakville and Burlington Homeowners Are Seeing All of Them Right Now

What Are the Signs of a Rodent Infestation in Oakville and Burlington?

Kitchens and garages across Halton and Hamilton are seeing rising pest activity. The key warning signs of a rodent infestation include: rodent warning signs Oakville Burlington

• Dark, small droppings along baseboards, pantry shelves, or behind appliances
• Scratching or rustling noises inside walls or ceilings at night
• Chewed cardboard boxes, plastic containers, food packaging, or electrical wires
• Greasy rub marks along walls or baseboards
• Contaminated food or open cereal boxes with bite marks

If you notice any of these signs, contact Maximum Pest Control Services at (905) 582-5502 for a professional inspection.

There has been a sharp uptick in the number of pests being reported in kitchens and garages throughout Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and Milton in recent months. The uptick in pest discovery is not just an isolated incident; it demonstrates a very serious concern that many of us fail to see as a risk factor.

3 Warning Signs to Look Out For

The instances of finding droppings in your garage or scratch marks on your wall may seem to be a minor nuisance, yet these occurrences are often the first sign that you may now have (or already have) an infestation inside your home.

1-Droppings

The presence of dark, small pellets located along the baseboard, on your pantry shelves or behind your appliances indicates that Rodents are living in your garage. Both mice and rats constantly drop droppings in the locations where they eat or move around; the greater the number of droppings, the larger the infestation.

2-Scratching Noises

Whenever you hear scratching sounds coming from inside either your walls or your ceiling at night, you can be almost certain that there’s a creature living inside your walls; rather it be a mouse, rat, raccoon or squirrel. The reasons why these animals move into homes are for the warmth and food source; therefore, once they find a way into your home, the likelihood that they will leave it is very slim.

3-Chewed Boxes and Wires

Rodents will chew to prevent the nails on their teeth from growing too long. Many items in the household will be at risk to their chewing behavior such as cardboard boxes, plastic containers, electrical wires and/or plumbing. Therefore, if you are noticing any chewing on certain items, it would be prudent to contact a pest control company.

While a cereal box that has been chewed up may not seem like a big deal, it is actually a strong indication that a pest has already gained access to your food storage area and may have contaminated it with pathogens from their dirty paws.

Why Would the Kitchen and Garage Be the Best Locations?

The kitchen is an ideal environment for mice and other pests because of the combination of food, warmth and moisture. All the leftover crumbs under cabinets and the pet food on the floor as well as the open boxes of cereal are all incentives for mice to make their homes inside your kitchen. In addition to that, mice can hide easily behind your stove, dishwasher and refrigerator.

Given the clutter of storage bins, old cardboard and food packaging materials in most garages, they create an easier access point for pests compared to other areas of the home. Openings underneath doors, vents and cracks in the foundation of the building allow pests to enter easier. If the garage is built adjacent to the kitchen the easier access becomes significantly shorter.

So What Is Causing Such a Large Increase in the Pest Populations Within the Local Area?

There are several factors that have led to the increase in pest activity:

• Warmer than average winters over the last few years have allowed for a longer breeding season for rodents and insects.
• Increased population growth in urban areas has destroyed most of the wildlife’s natural habitats, forcing them to adapt and seek alternative shelter within residents’ homes.
• A large building boom in the Milton and Burlington area has resulted in many ground-dwelling pests being displaced and subsequently moving into adjacent houses.
• The increased amount of deliveries and shipping boxes received, particularly during the holiday season, has created a large influx of cardboard boxes that many pests build nests out of.
• These problems are not just seasonal — they have now grown to be a year-round issue.

The Health and Safety Impact of Leaving Pest Signs to Continue

• Contaminated food. Mice and other rodents are carriers of bacteria (e.g. salmonella) and deposit traces of these pathogens on everything that they come into contact with.
• Rodents can worsen indoor air quality by leaving droppings and shedding fur, as well as having urine.
• Rodents are one of the leading causes of unexplained electrical fires in houses due to chewed wiring.
• Wood, drywall, and insulation may be weakened by continued tunneling and nesting.

What You Can Do To Prevent Rodents

You do not need to wait to see a rodent. Here are a few simple and easy steps you can take at this time.

-Seal Points of Entry

Examine the exterior of your house and make sure that you close any cracks or holes between the foundations and walls. You should also close up gaps around all doors and windows. You can seal them with the use of either metal mesh or steel wool.

-Organize The Mess

Keep boxes off the floors of garages and basements. Do not use cardboard boxes; instead, use plastic containers with tight lids. Never have food, including pet food stored in garages unless it is in a secure container.

-Keep The Home Clean

Sweep up all crumbs, clean up spills as soon as they happen, and do not leave out dirty dishes overnight. Always check hidden places for signs of excrement, chewing, or nesting materials.

-Make Sure Your Garbage Is Covered

Keep a lidded garbage can both inside and outside your home. Also, don’t keep compost in close proximity to your home. Regularly rinse your garbage cans to prevent food smells from attracting rodents. Also, fix the broken bottom garage door if the cover is broken or corner chewed.

-Keep An Eye Out

Listen for noises at night; check corners and behind your appliances; and check for greased marks and chewed-up items.

When To Get Help

If there are frequent droppings, continual scratching sounds, or signs of damage to the furniture/metals, you need help. Although you may try to use DIY methods such as traps or sprays for the short term, if you have a serious infestation issue, there may be more hidden nests than you see.

Pest control companies in Halton and Hamilton will know which species of rodent you have, as well as the trends in their populations; this information will help with the inspection for hidden nests and closure of all their entry points and proper targeted treatments.

The sooner you deal with an issue, the easier it will be to care for and the less expense it will take to repair. If you wait to see how things progress, you will allow the rodents to breed and move, and to cause further damage and often hidden areas of the home. Got Rodent Problems? NO WORRIES! Contact insured and bonded exterminators today calling Maximum Team (905) 582-5502.