Pests We Treat - Extremely soiled insulation in Plainsboro, NJ
Whenever I arrive at a home to resolve a mouse infestation, I conduct a quick debriefing debriefing with the customer that helps to focus my inspection on the problem areas of the home. For example, it's important to know where mouse droppings have been seen and where in the home unusual noises have been heard. Mice can find their way inside wall voids and on top of drop ceilings where you'll hear them running, gnawing, or squeaking - usually at night. Finally, homeowners may see damage to stored food containers especially cardboard boxes, materials used for nesting, and their hidden stockpiles of pilfered food.
These homeowners had some helpful "Intel" for me that helped target my inspection. They heard some scurrying noses in their basement drop ceiling and in the attic area above their bedroom ceiling. I grabbed my flashlight and began my inspection in the attic. It did not take long to uncover mice activity. As soon as I was in the attic, I found an area that was covered with mouse droppings - and there was plenty of evidence. A single mouse can leave 70 droppings a day! With active infestations, you'll find fresh black dropping. They are still glistening, wet-looking, and pliable - you can press them out of shape like putty. Old droppings are grayish, dusty-looking, and crumble easily if pressed. Small particles can become airborne and cause serious respiratory infections if inhaled, so it's best to stay away from this waste if you don't have protective equipment. It can be a little more challenging to find their nesting locations. Sometimes, it's hidden, and you have to pull or move insulation to find where the mice are nesting. To eliminate the mice that had infested the attic, I placed several rodent bait boxes around the attic's perimeter.