7 Signs You Have Mice in Your New Hampshire Home (And What to Do)
By Middle East Pest Control · New Hampshire pest control and wildlife removal experts
Every fall, as temperatures drop across New Hampshire, mice move indoors. A single pair can produce dozens of offspring before spring. Here are the signs our rodent control technicians look for.
1. Droppings in cabinets, drawers and along walls
Mouse droppings are dark, rice-sized and pointed at the ends. Fresh droppings are soft and shiny; old ones are dry and gray. Finding them in the kitchen, pantry or under the sink is the most common first sign.
2. Scratching or scurrying at night
Mice are nocturnal. Noise in the walls, ceiling or under floors after dark usually means mice, not squirrels (which are active by day).
3. Gnaw marks on food packaging, wiring or wood
Mice must gnaw constantly to keep their teeth short. Chewed cereal boxes, pet food bags and wire insulation are red flags, and chewed wiring is a fire risk.
4. Nests made of shredded paper or insulation
Look behind appliances, in the garage and in stored boxes.
5. A musky, ammonia-like smell
Mouse urine has a distinct odor that gets stronger as the population grows.
6. Grease marks along baseboards
Mice follow the same routes and leave oily rub marks along walls and entry holes.
7. Your pets are fixated on one spot
Dogs and cats hear and smell mice long before you do.
What to do next
Traps alone rarely solve the problem because mice keep entering through the same gaps. Professional rodent control combines trapping with rodent exclusion: sealing every gap larger than a quarter inch with steel mesh. If you're not sure what you're dealing with, book a pest inspection.