Bugs or Mice in the Walls? How to Tell the Difference
If you hear a scratching in your walls, it could be bugs, mice, or a different type of pest.
A scratching noise inside your walls can be disconcerting. It could be any variety of pests looking for food, making nests, or simply seeking out shelter for a short while. However, determining if you have bugs or mice in the walls can make your pest control measure that much more effective.
For starters, you could have mice or rats in your walls. Both pests are disease vectors, spreading salmonella, hantavirus, leptospirosis, tularemia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV).
Aside from mice and rats, you could have bats, squirrels, birds, or a variety of bugs in the walls. Knowing more about each pest helps in figuring out what’s inside your walls.
Mice in the Wall (among other pests)
Mice in the house — along with rats — like to get inside the walls. From there, you may hear different scurrying noises or even scratching sounds as they hurry about.
Keep in mind that mice and rats are nocturnal, so you’re more likely to hear these sounds at night. You may even notice these noises in the floors or other cavities inside your home.
If you hear scurrying noises in the walls during the day, it may be squirrels as this is when they’re most active. If these scratching noises are the loudest during the day, then it may be squirrels.
Bats can also move into walls, although they’re more common in attics. These critters also scratch, but it’s commonly softer. You might also hear squeaking noise or flapping if bats are in your home.
Birds are another critter that can be nesting in your walls. When they move around, you’ll hear scratching noises. Look for nests, especially under eaves or in vents.
Any of these pests can transmit diseases, some as dangerous as rabies. If you suspect you have any pests in your home, contact a professional pest control technician in Sparta, NJ.
Bugs in the House
Bugs in the wall can include termites, carpenter ants, and bed bugs, to name a few. If you have termites or carpenter ants, you might heara rustling noise or scratching, although it might be faint. These pests make this noise as they borrow inside your home’s wood.
Termites can damage your home’s structure in a matter of years, so be sure to have them removed by a professional pest control company. Carpenter ants can also cause a lot of damage and it can be difficult to tell these two pests apart.
Additionally, carpenter ants prefer soft wood that’s been damaged by water, so you may need to contact a plumber to check for leaks.
Signs of Pests in Your Home
If you see mice droppings in your house, this is a clear indicator of pests. They defecate and urinate all day long, often leaving upwards of 75 droppings daily. You might find mice droppings in cabinets, beneath different appliances, or wherever mice are traveling.
Their feces are usually black and resemble pellets with tapered ends. You might see urine stains or smell it.
Mice are more commonly heard in the morning and night when there’s less noise in the house. In addition to walls, you may hear mice scratching in vents and in ceilings.
Clothing with holes in it is another example of mice. They chew fabric to nest with, so any holes in garments is a clear indicator of pests.
Mice in the Walls
Mice in the walls often sound like scratching, but can be confused with other pests, insects included. Pests spread disease, so you should always take the proper precautions to prevent and remove them from your home.
Serene Property Services can help you with any type of pest infestation in Sussex County, NJ, and Warwick, NY. We also remove wild animals safely and humanely. Contact us today for an estimate.
