Mice & Rats FAQ

Rats and mice are known to carry many diseases. These diseases can spread to people directly, through handling of rodents; contact with rodent feces (poop), urine, or saliva (such as through breathing in air or eating food that is contaminated with rodent waste); or rodent bites.

Rodents can also carry ticks, mites, or fleas that can act as vectors to spread diseases between rodents and people. Many diseases do not cause any apparent illness in rodents, so you cannot tell if a rodent is carrying a disease just by looking at it.

Infestation of rodents in and around the home is the main reason disease spreads from rodents to people. The best way to prevent a rodent infestation and contact with rodents is to seal openings that lead to the outside, remove food sources, water, and items that provide shelter for rodents. Learn how to eliminate a rodent infestation, prevent future rodent infestations, and prevent diseases spread by rodents.

The first signs of rodents usually appear before you even see a rat or mouse. Regular inspection of the inside and outside of a home or business is important to identify signs of rodents. It’s easier to control rodents before they have time to become established.

Rodent droppings can be found anywhere rodents have accessed but are common in cabinets, drawers, and other areas out of plain sight. Rodent droppings are pointed at one end and often contain hair. It can be challenging to know if there is an active rodent population just by examining droppings. One way to be sure is to safely clean the area. If droppings are present after cleaning, this indicates an active rodent presence.

Rats and mice gnaw to create better access points and keep their teeth at the proper length. Their teeth leave distinct marks and are a good sign that rodents were active in the area. Gnaw marks alone may only mean that rodents were active in the area at some point. Gnaw marks are often found in the same area as droppings, and the same clean-up techniques can be used to help determine if there is an active rodent presence.

Two classic signs of rodent presence are rodent droppings and gnaw marks.