Should you discover droppings from mice or rats, immediate measures ought to be taken. These droppings signal a clear indication of rodent infestation, a prevalent cause of sickness. Thankfully, numerous strategies exist to prevent such infestations in both homes and businesses, as employed by expert residential and commercial rat control services.
This blog post will go over what steps you should take if you have found evidence of rodents on your property so that they do not become a problem!
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Dangers Of Mice And Rats
Mice and rats can spread a lot of diseases.
When they come in contact with humans, it is possible for the human to contract one or more illnesses from these rodents.
The most common diseases transmitted by mice and rats are hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, listeriosis, and leptospirosis, among many others!
Difference Of Rat And Mouse Droppings.
It’s important to know how to identify both types of rodents so you can take action as soon as possible.
The last thing you want is for one of these disease-carrying rodents to be inside your home or business, causing problems because they were never detected in time!
Mouse droppings are usually smaller than ½ an inch long, whereas rats leave behind bigger droppings which can vary by size depending on what type of rodent it came from; both poops have pointed ends.
Rats will generally have two lines next to their feces where their tails drag across the floor when they defecate, while mice will leave a single line next to their droppings.
How To Deal With Rodent Droppings
It is best to deal with rodent droppings immediately to avoid a larger, more expensive problem from occurring.
If you find rodent droppings on your property, there are several steps to take so that the infestation does not get worse, such as:
Clean Up Urine And Poop
The first step is to clean up their droppings.
Make sure to put on rubber gloves in picking up and cleaning their feces and urine to prevent health risks.
It is also best to clean them by wearing rubber boots, masks, long-sleeved shirts, and using disposable plastic bags.
The best way to clean up the droppings is by spraying a disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water that will eliminate any germs or bacteria left behind, which can cause disease.
Disinfect The Whole Surface
After you have cleaned the urine and droppings, make sure to disinfect everything around where they were found.
Oftentimes these rodents will travel in small groups, so it is very likely there are more droppings somewhere else that need to be addressed immediately!
If you find evidence of even one rodent inside your home or business, this means their paths can spread out across several areas, which makes cleaning up much harder.
Ventilate The Area
Rodents love dark, confined spaces, which is why they will often access your home through nesting these areas.
This means that after you have cleaned up their droppings and disinfected any areas where they were found, make sure to ventilate these closed-off spaces as well!
The best way to do this is by using a fan to push out all of those harmful smells from inside, with fresh air coming in from outside.
Dispose Of The Nest Safely
If you have found a nest, this means they may be hiding babies inside, which will need to be taken care of.
Fortunately, there is no risk in touching them as long as you wear gloves and use tongs or something similar when disposing of the nest!
Make sure to seal their nest in a plastic container or bag and dispose of it immediately.
Mop And Wash Up
After you have finished ventilating the area and disposing of their nests, make sure to mop up any areas that may still contain those germs or bacteria by using a disinfectant.
Don’t forget to thoroughly wash your gloves as well as anything else used, such as rubber boots, masks, long-sleeved shirts, disposable plastic bags, etc.
Hire A Professional
If there are either too many droppings or if they have been around for an extended period of time, this means you will need to hire a professional.
This is the best way to ensure that all traces of their urine and feces, as well as any nests, have been taken care of properly!
It may be necessary to call them in more than once, depending on how much work still needs to be done.
Professionals will be able to get rid of these pests and prevent them from re-entering your home or business in the future.
New Understanding
After reading this blog post, you will be armed with the knowledge on what to do if you find mouse or rat droppings in your home.
You’ll know how to identify and remove them without risking harm for yourself and others. If you have more questions in mind, feel free to give us a call!