Signs of Rodent Activity in Your Home and How to Respond

Common Signs of Rodent Activity in Your Home

Droppings in Hidden Corners

One of the most common indicators of rodents in your home is the appearance of droppings. These are usually small, dark, and pellet-shaped, often found in kitchen cupboards, behind appliances, or along skirting boards. Fresh droppings are soft and dark in colour, while older ones are grey and brittle, helping inspectors determine the level of activity. If you start spotting these signs, it’s likely that rodents are already making themselves comfortable inside your property.

Gnaw Marks and Damage

Rodents have a constant need to gnaw in order to keep their teeth from growing too long. This results in visible damage to furniture, skirting boards, food packaging, and even electrical wiring. Gnaw marks are usually rough and uneven, and you may also notice shredded paper, cardboard, or fabric nearby, materials rodents use to build their nests. Left unchecked, this behaviour can quickly escalate from nuisance damage to costly repairs.

Scratching Sounds and Movement

Another tell-tale sign is noise. Rodents are most active at night, and homeowners often report hearing scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds in walls, ceilings, or under floors. These noises can be unsettling and are a strong indicator that rodents are moving about your home when they think no one is watching. Paying attention to these sounds can help you detect an infestation before it becomes severe.

Nests and Greasy Marks Along Walls

Rodents tend to build nests from easily accessible materials like paper, fabric, and insulation. These nests are often hidden in quiet, dark areas such as roof voids, basements, or behind appliances. Another subtle sign is the greasy smudge marks they leave behind. As rodents repeatedly travel the same paths, the oils in their fur rub against walls and skirting boards, leaving faint dark trails that reveal their regular routes.

Professional Support When You Spot the Signs

While it’s important to be vigilant, spotting one or two of these signs doesn’t always reveal the full scale of an infestation. That’s why homeowners turn to trusted rodent management services like Stewarts Pest Control. With decades of experience, we know how to identify these subtle signs, confirm the extent of the problem, and provide effective solutions tailored to your home.

The Risks of Ignoring Rodent Infestations

Health Hazards for Your Family

Rodents are more than just a nuisance — they are carriers of harmful bacteria and diseases. Their droppings, urine, and saliva can contaminate food and kitchen surfaces, increasing the risk of illnesses such as salmonella and leptospirosis. For families with young children, these risks are particularly concerning, as little ones are more likely to come into contact with contaminated areas. In addition, rodents can trigger allergies and worsen asthma symptoms due to the fine particles they leave behind in the air.

Property Damage That Escalates Quickly

Rodents’ constant gnawing can lead to severe property damage if ignored. Electrical wires are a common target, and chewed wiring not only requires expensive repairs but also poses a fire hazard. They may also damage insulation, wooden beams, and even plumbing, creating hidden problems that weaken the integrity of your home. What may begin as a few chew marks can quickly escalate into large-scale structural issues that cost thousands to fix.

The Rapid Growth of Infestations

One of the most alarming risks of ignoring rodent activity is how quickly infestations can spread. A pair of mice or rats can reproduce rapidly, with litters of multiple young born every few weeks. Left unchecked, a small presence can explode into a large-scale infestation within months. This means that delaying action not only worsens the damage but also makes eradication far more complex and expensive.

Why Professional Help Is Essential

Ignoring rodent activity is simply not an option if you want to protect your family and property. While DIY traps may offer temporary relief, they rarely address the root cause of the infestation. For long-term safety, it’s best to turn to Perth rodent elimination experts like Stewarts Pest Control. With decades of experience and proven techniques, we understand how to not only eliminate rodents but also prevent them from returning. Our professional approach ensures peace of mind, knowing that your home is free from the risks posed by these destructive pests.

Immediate Steps to Take When You Notice Rodent Activity

Secure Your Food and Clean Surfaces

The first thing you should do when you spot signs of rodents is secure all sources of food. Store dry goods in airtight containers, keep fruit and bread off counters, and ensure rubbish bins are tightly sealed. Cleaning up crumbs and spills immediately removes the easy access to food that rodents rely on. Reducing these temptations won’t eliminate the problem, but it makes your home less inviting to pests.

Identify and Block Entry Points

Rodents are excellent at squeezing through even the smallest gaps. Inspect your home for cracks around windows, gaps beneath doors, or openings around pipes and vents. Seal these areas where possible to limit their access. Even simple fixes such as door sweeps and mesh coverings can make a difference in reducing the flow of new rodents into your home.

Use Traps as a Temporary Measure

Homeowners often turn to traps or baits as an immediate response. While these tools can catch a few rodents, they rarely address the larger infestation hiding out of sight. In fact, relying solely on traps can give a false sense of security if more rodents are nesting in walls, ceilings, or roof voids. Traps should be seen as a stop-gap measure while you arrange a professional inspection.

Call in Professional Help Quickly

Perhaps the most important step is to act without delay. Rodent infestations grow quickly, and waiting only makes the problem worse. At this point, reaching out to a pest control team is the smartest move. With safe and reliable rodent control, Stewarts Pest Control not only removes the rodents you can see but also targets the ones hiding in hard-to-reach places. Our team uses proven methods that are safe for families and pets, ensuring your home is protected without unnecessary risk. Taking prompt action prevents further damage, safeguards your health, and restores peace of mind sooner rather than later.

Why Professional Pest Control Is the Best Long-Term Response

Limitations of DIY Approaches

While traps and store-bought baits may seem like an easy fix, they rarely solve the root of the problem. Rodents are intelligent and cautious creatures, often avoiding poorly placed traps or learning to navigate around them. Even if you catch a few, larger colonies hidden within roof spaces or wall cavities will continue to thrive. DIY efforts usually provide short-term relief but allow infestations to rebuild over time.

Expertise That Makes a Difference

Professional pest control brings experience and knowledge that homeowners simply don’t have. At Stewarts Pest Control, our technicians understand rodent behaviour, breeding patterns, and nesting habits. We don’t just treat the symptoms; we look for the cause — entry points, food sources, and environmental factors — and develop tailored strategies to eliminate infestations fully. This comprehensive approach ensures that rodents are removed and kept from returning.

Safe and Targeted Treatments

Rodent control must be carried out carefully, especially in family homes with children or pets. Professional pest controllers use safe, approved methods that minimise risks while delivering effective results. This includes baiting stations, exclusion techniques, and sanitation advice designed to protect your household. You can be confident that treatments are not only effective but also responsible, prioritising health and safety while addressing the problem thoroughly.

Prevention for Lasting Peace of Mind

Perhaps the greatest advantage of professional help is the focus on prevention. By identifying vulnerabilities in your home and addressing them proactively, pest control experts help ensure infestations don’t reappear. With a professional rodent prevention service like Stewarts Pest Control, homeowners can enjoy lasting peace of mind knowing their property is protected from future problems. At Stewarts Pest Control, we combine decades of experience with tailored prevention strategies, helping Perth families live rodent-free with confidence.

Take Action Against Rodents Today

Are you confident you could spot the early signs of rodent activity and know exactly how to respond? 

From droppings and gnaw marks to hidden nests, rodents bring health risks and property damage that only worsen if ignored. Acting quickly is crucial, but lasting results come from professional support. At Stewarts Pest Control, we’ve been helping Perth families protect their homes since 1954, combining proven methods with trusted service. Don’t wait until a small problem becomes a major infestation — contact our team today and take the first step towards a safe, rodent-free home.