General Information        Signs of Infestation         Methods of Control        
Rat-Proofing          Cleaning Up after Rodents

Signs of an Infestation

The degree of infestation can be determined by checking for the following signs:

• Sounds—Rats are active at night, while mice are active in the daytime.  Listen for  squeaks, patter of feet, and climbing sounds.
• Odors—Rats give off a noticeable pungent smell.  Mice give off a musky odor.
• Droppings—Both rats and mice leave numerous droppings (up to 50 per day).  Fresh droppings are moist, soft, shiny, dark in color, and 1/4 to 3/4 inches in length. 
• Gnawings—Rats and mice constantly gnaw on hard surfaces. 
• Runways—Rodents frequently use the same pathway between food, water, and shelter.  These pathways are often visible and greasemarks are noticeable.