Spotted a mouse or rat at home? Do not wait for the problem to grow.

You hear rustling and scratching at night

One of the most common signs. Mice and rats become more active at night when the property is quiet. If these sounds regularly come from the same place, it is worth checking the property for rodent activity. You can hear:

• rustling behind the walls
• scratching under the floor
• movement above a suspended ceiling
• sounds inside kitchen furniture
• running in the attic or basement

You find rodent droppings

Mouse droppings usually look like small, dark, oblong grains. Rat droppings are noticeably larger. Fresh droppings are usually dark and shiny, while old droppings are dry and lighter in colour. You are most likely to find them:

• near walls and skirting boards
• in kitchen cabinets
• near stored food
• under the sink
• near the bin
• in the pantry
• in the basement or attic

You find gnaw marks on food, packaging or furniture

Rodents' teeth grow continuously, so mice and rats need to gnaw regularly. Marks on wires are especially dangerous because they can cause a short circuit or fire. Damage may appear on:

• food boxes and bags
• wooden furniture
• plastic containers
• doors and skirting boards
• insulation
• pipes
• electrical wires

You notice paw or tail prints

In dusty rooms, basements, storage rooms and behind furniture, you can sometimes see small paw prints or tail lines. These tracks often reveal the routes rodents use between their shelter and sources of food and water.

You notice holes in walls or around pipes

Mice are able to enter through very small openings. If you find droppings, fur marks or gnawed edges near an opening, rodents may be using it as a regular entry point. Rodents often use:

• cracks near pipes
• holes in the walls
• gaps under doors
• ventilation ducts
• damaged areas of the façade
• passages near cables and utility routes

You found damaged products or packaging

Rodents can chew through cardboard, thin plastic and bags to reach food. Food damaged in this way should not be eaten. Foods most often damaged include:

• cereals
• bread and pastries
• pet food
• nuts
• dried fruits
• food in soft packaging

You find a nest

Mice and rats use soft materials to build their nests. Nests are usually found in dark, rarely disturbed areas: behind furniture, inside walls, in attics, basements or storage areas. They use:

• paper
• cardboard
• textile
• insulation
• plastic bags
• dry grass
• furniture filler

You notice a strong, unpleasant odour

Where rodents are present for some time, a distinctive smell of urine may develop. The stronger the smell, the longer the problem is likely to exist. It is most noticeable:

• in closed cabinets
• behind furniture
• in storerooms
• in basements
• in attics
• in ventilation ducts and utility rooms

Pets behave unusually

A dog or cat can sense the presence of mice or rats before a person does. This behaviour is especially important if it occurs regularly in one location. A pet may:

• look at one point for a long time
• sniff near the wall
• scratch the floor or furniture
• be restless at night
• try to get under kitchen units

You saw a mouse or rat during the day

Rodents often come out at night. If a mouse or rat appears during the day, this may indicate a larger population, a shortage of food or that its usual shelter has been disturbed. In such a situation, it is better not to postpone inspection and rodent control.

The problem appeared among neighbours or in common areas

If neighbours, the building manager or staff in a neighbouring property have seen mice or rats, there is a risk that the rodents may enter your property too. In apartment buildings in Warsaw, rodents can move through:

• basements
• garbage chutes
• service shafts
• ventilation
• holes near pipes
• shared parts of the building