Dangerous Droppings: Rat and Mouse Poop in the Home

A mouse trapped in a corner looking up at the camera

Rat and mouse poop, from a distance, they can look like tracks of dirt. It’s upon closer inspection that you can determine whether or not it’s evidence of a rodent infestation. It’s not pleasant to have any kind of animal leavings in your home – but act carefully. You can’t sweep up rodent droppings like you would other forms of poop. It might look easy, but it’s actually a health hazard. At Garrie Pest Control we’re experts on rodent control in the Lower Hudson Valley, and if you have evidence of a rodent infestation, we can help. Before that happens, though, you may want to know for certain if the droppings in your home are mouse or rat poop. We can tell you the indicators, how to clean their mess safely, and what our expert exterminators can do to help.

What Does Rodent Poop Look Like?

Though they’re both considered rodents, rats and mice are very different creatures with different habits. Mice are tidy poopers that tend to designate a particular space outside the nest to serve as their toilet. This might look like your silverware drawer, or in the space behind where you store your food. Mouse droppings are small and brown – similar to cockroach poop, only pointed at either end like a grain of rice. Rats, on the other hand, drop much larger pellets shaped like a grape or coffee bean. They are sometimes mistaken for squirrel poop, only squirrel poop is rounded and will lighten over time. And while mice will pick a place to defecate in, rats will spread their waste everywhere they go.

Whether mouse or rat, rodent droppings are unpleasant and frustrating to come across. But before you reach for the broom or vacuum, stop and breathe a second. There’s a better way to clean it up.

How to Clean Mouse and Rat Poop

Most feces carry some kind of illness-causing bacteria, and rat and mouse droppings are no exception. One of the most dangerous possibilities that can come from exposure to rodent droppings is the threat of Hantavirus. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a respiratory disease that is transferred from rodents to humans and which has a fatality rate of 38%. At first symptoms present like the flu or a bad cold, with a fever and fatigue, but if left untreated it could result in your lungs filling with fluid. Not all rodent droppings are infected. If they are, though, and you disturb them with a broom or vacuum cleaner, you’ll be sending virus particles into the air. So, what should you do instead?

First, you’ll need protective gear, mainly eye goggles, a face mask and plastic or rubber gloves. Spray the area, droppings and urine, with bleach or a disinfectant and allow it to soak for five minutes. Then you can wipe the mess with a paper towel and throw it away, along with your mask and gloves. After that, you can continue cleaning as you usually would for the area in mind. But before you do that, you should take a moment to call a professional rodent exterminator like the ones at Garrie Pest Control.

Garrie Pest Control Rodent Exterminators

For over 50 years, Garrie Pest Control has been helping to keep homes and businesses in the Lower Hudson Valley pest-free. We know the damage that rats and mice can cause if left untreated. They can tear through your insulation, wood and wiring – causing risk of an electrical fire. Rodents can ruin your belongings and contaminate your food. To put it simply, they are trouble, and our team knows exactly how to deal with them. Your Garrie Pest Control expert will craft a removal and prevention plan that’s personalized for you, and your home’s needs. When we’re done, you’ll be able to live with the ease and comfort that comes from not always being on the lookout for mystery poop. To get started, contact us today!

5 Preparation Steps for Rodent Control Service

A mouse in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

All homeowners dread the moment that they see a mouse or a rat scurrying across the floor. Unfortunately, where there is one rodent, there is almost always a family of rodents. This means that when you find one, your best option to get rid of them quickly is to contact a local mouse or rat exterminator.

If you’re expecting a visit from an exterminator soon, you might be wondering how you can get your home ready for your appointment with the technician. We’ve laid out our 5 most important steps to prep your home for professional rodent control! Read on to learn from our experts at Garrie Pest Control. 

How to Prepare for Rodent Removal

Your rodent exterminator will be able to work most efficiently if you take a few steps to help them with their process. These 5 steps will let you and your technician find all of the rodents on your property quickly and easily:

  • Prep the kitchen: Rats and mice are always out for a meal, so preparing your kitchen is a crucial step. Make sure that all of your food is sealed and securely stowed away in your pantry or refrigerator. Throw out any damaged or rotten food items and clear out the spaces on top of and around your fridge, stove, and sink.
  • Clean up trash and boxes: Sweep, vacuum, and clean all around your house next. All of the trash should be taken out and you should place lids on your trash bins, both indoor and outdoor. Boxes, bugs, and other storage items should be folded or closed and stowed away to prevent any unnecessary hiding spots. This will give your exterminator the best opportunity to lay effective bait.
  • Seal visible cracks and holes: Walk around your home and inspect all of the walls and baseboards. Look for small holes, cracks, and spaces that do not seal correctly. Mice can fit through gaps as little as a quarter of an inch, and rats can fit through spaces measuring one-half of an inch, so fill and repair these cracks if you can, or report them to the landlord if you live in an apartment.
  • Take notes of rodent sightings: Write a list of all the places where you or anyone in your family has seen rodents or noticed signs of them. Let your technician know where the rodent sightings took place, along with the evidence of rodent activity in particular locations. The technician will then be able to target their search to the areas where the rodents are likely active.
  • Safety prep: If you find any rodent urine or feces around your house, depose of it quickly and carefully, being sure not to touch it with bare skin or prolong your exposure to it. Rodent waste can carry many diseases and should be dealt with delicately.

Ready for Rodent Control in Peekskill NY?

If you’ve seen or noticed signs of rodents around your property recently, it’s time to reach out to your local rodent control company. Given the many dangers and constant nuisance that rats and mice pose, it’s important to have any infestations dealt with swiftly and professionally. For a free quote, contact our rat and mice exterminators today!

How Quickly Can Rodents Reproduce?

Group of mice in Peekskill NY home - Garrie Pest Control

Many pests are just that—pests—due to the fact that they can get inside your home and reproduce at a rapid rate. This is especially true for rodents (mice, in particular), whose rapid reproduction rate can quickly turn a small mouse problem into a full-blown infestation. Mice have a life cycle that enables them to reach sexual maturity at just four or so weeks of age. Needless to say, this means just a couple of mice in your property can turn to dozens or even hundreds in a short period of time. For this reason and more, it’s imperative to learn how to keep mice away from your home in the first place. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know with the experts at Garrie Pest Control!

Mouse Reproduction Cycle

To understand how severe a rodent infestation can be, it’s important to know just how quickly mice can reproduce. It only takes a single male and female mouse to ignite an infestation. Here’s what to know:

  1. A young female mouse can begin mating and reproducing at just 4–6 weeks old.
  2. One mouse can give birth to 5 or 6 babies after just a three-week gestation period—and can do so up to 10 times a year.
  3. Right after giving birth to one litter, female mice can begin the cycle right over. This means mice can birth a second litter in as little as 25 days after the first. 

Rodent reproduction infographic - Garrie Pest Control in Peekskill NY

Rodent Infestations Inside Your Property

The life cycle of a mouse makes it easy to see why these rodents are such common pests in our region. On average, mice live about a year when they live outside. However, they can live for nearly 2 or 3 years in an indoor environment. Living indoors also enables mice to breed more rapidly, as they are unable to reproduce in the winter if outdoors. Inside the comfort of your home, rodents are safe from predators like owls, hawks, and cats. This is why a small rodent problem inside your home or business can quickly become something much more serious if action isn’t taken.

Preventing Mice From Reproducing Indoors

If you don’t want mice multiplying by the dozen inside your property, you need to make your property less attractive to them in the first place! Even more important is learning how to recognize the early signs of rodents in your home—noises, droppings, and more. By stopping a small mouse problem, you can avoid the inevitable infestation. The rodent exterminators at Garrie Pest Control are happy to help by implementing the best rodent exclusion tactics. Get started today!

How to Get Rid of Mice This Winter

A mouse found in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

As we start to approach the coldest months of the year here in Peekskill NY, it’s important to start taking precautions against the pests that come with the season. Mice are one of the most common winter pests that we deal with at Garrie Pest Control, and we meet people every year that can’t seem to figure out why their mouse problem started. One of the smallest and sneakiest rodents, mice are well-equipped to sneak into our homes and nest undetected. To avoid mouse problems this winter, read on for our technicians’ best advice for at-home mice exclusion!

Why Do Mice Infestations Happen in the Winter?

Like all other wild animals around Peekskill NY, mice need to make sure that they have sufficient access to necessary resources to last them through the winter. They usually find everything that they need in our homes, and they’re able to sneak in with ease. When they break into your home, mice are looking for:

  • Warmth: First and foremost, mice sense the dawning of winter and scramble to find a reliable source of warmth. Living in our insulated walls suits them perfectly.
  • Shelter: Due to the rapid turnaround of their reproductive cycle, mice need to build nests in safe areas. They use scrapped paper, fabrics, and similar materials to build nests inside our homes.
  • Food: Mice love to sneak into our kitchens and trash cans to find any grain-based foods, produce, and more. They are able to stay adequately hydrated through their food consumption.

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

Mice are one of the hardest pests to get rid of on your own once they’ve established a nest and a breeding population. This means that you must put proper exclusion strategies in place to defend your home from the initial infestation. Here are some ways you can do so:

  1. Inspect your home for gaps and close them off. This could mean sealing cracks in the foundation and walls, covering vents, windows, and doors with screens, and more.
  2. Cut out their access to food. This means washing dishes promptly, cleaning up spills right away, taking out your garbage often, and using sealable trash bins.
  3. Keep your yard in proper order. By keeping your grass trimmed, yard waste cleared away, and mulch far from your home’s foundation, you can prevent mice from living in your yard, which is usually the first step to a home infestation.

Starting Mice Control in Peekskill NY

There is no better time than the present to start mouse-proofing your home. If you’ve taken all of these steps and mice are still invading your home, reach out to your local pest control company for help. At Garrie Pest Control, we take pride in our holistic rodent removal process—a complete property inspection to find all weak spots, safe and efficient mice removal work, and a full report identifying what has been done and what you can do to avoid further problems. Contact us today for a free quote!

Expect More Fall-Winter Pest Activity

What rats look like in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

With each passing season, a whole new group of pests passes through the area around Peekskill NY. New York is infamous for its unpredictable weather, and changes in rainfall, sunlight, and even barometric pressure all affect the active pest populations in the region. This means that pest prevention is an active and never-ending process for local homeowners.

If you’re looking to get ahead of our usual winter pest issues, read on. Garrie Pest Control’s technicians have some advice to share on recent weather patterns, how they have altered active pest populations, and what you can do about it!

Fall and Winter Pests in Peekskill NY

Have you noticed an increase in rainfall this autumn? With scattered waves of precipitation starting earlier in the year in 2021, certain pest issues have inflated, the most notable being mosquitoes and ticks. These blood-suckers thrive in warm and wet environments, so summer and early autumn rain allow them to sustain their breeding populations for longer than they usually would.

However, once temperatures drop to a consistent level of 50 degrees or below, rodent infestations become the primary problem. We expect to see consistent snowfall starting earlier this year, so rats and mice will be quick to look for homes to hide in for warmth and shelter during a long winter. Rodents are able to squeeze their bodies through smaller holes than an inexperienced homeowner might expect.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has put out their biannual Bug Barometer for Fall & Winter of 2021. You can read the full report here.

2021 Bug Barometer - Garrie Pest Control

How to Prevent Pests in the Colder Seasons

As the temperatures drop, and especially as snow starts to fall, we have to adapt our pest prevention strategies to keep up with pertinent pest pressures. Here are three important ways to reduce your chances of an infestation this fall and winter:

  1. Make sure there are no gaps through which rodents can enter your home. Look around your home for cracks in the foundation and walls, broken vents and roofing, or gaps under windows and doors.
  2. Be careful with food and trash. Make sure you clean up promptly after your meals, sealing your food in airtight containers. Additionally, use sealable trash bins and take your garbage out often.
  3. Maintain your yard. Piles of firewood and yard waste will create temporary hiding places for rats, mice, and other pests. Also, keeping your grass cut short will prevent standing water from pooling up in your yard. This will limit mosquito and tick activity.

Need Help with Pest Control in Peekskill NY?

Whether you’re having trouble keeping pests out of your home or you’re not sure if you’re taking the right steps to prevent pest problems, the technicians at your local pest control company can help. Our techs at Garrie Pest Control can help you inspect your property for vulnerabilities, complete any necessary pest extermination or removal, and follow up with preventative treatments as necessary to keep your home clean all year long. Contact us today for a free quote!

Do You Know How to Prepare for Fall Pests?

A rat in someone's home in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

When the weather starts to cool down for the first time in many months, all sorts of pests begin their preparations for a harsh winter. Looking for warmth and shelter from our chilly New York winters, countless kinds of insects and rodents try to take refuge inside our homes and on our properties. If you’ve lived around Peekskill for a while, you know how susceptible to pest problems our homes can become. Looking for a way to combat them? Read on for advice from our expert technicians at Garrie Pest Control!

Common Fall Pests in Peekskill NY

All sorts of pests live in New York, but there are a few to note that commonly cause trouble for homeowners come autumn. Here is our list of pests to watch out for this fall:

  • Roaches: Cockroaches make their way indoors when the temperatures start to drop. The problem with roaches is that you may not notice that your home is infested until the size of the outbreak grows quite large.
  • Beetles: Ground beetles, powderpost beetles, and carpet beetles are all more prominent in the fall. These beetles can cause all different sorts of slow-developing damage to your property.
  • Spiders: Spiders get into our homes looking for cluttered places to hide and insects to eat. Having an infestation of smaller pests can quickly lead to a spider outbreak, too.
  • Rodents: Most infamously, rats and mice love to get into our walls, attics, and crawl spaces to take shelter and forage for food during the fall.

How to Pest-Proof Your Home for Fall

Once a pest infestation is already underway in your home, you won’t find much success getting rid of them without professional help in most cases. The best way to enjoy a pest-free fall and winter is to take steps beforehand to reduce your risk of an infestation. There are several ways you can prepare your home for fall:

  1. Close any gaps that pests could get through. This could mean weather stripping your doors, fixing screens on your vents and windows, sealing cracks in your pipes, fixing broken roof tiles, and more.
  2. Keep your yard tidy. By clearing out yard waste promptly, cutting your grass short, reducing standing water buildup, and more, you can reduce the number of pest hiding places and food sources.
  3. Clean up promptly. Wash all of your dishes after eating, clean up spills when they happen, and store your food away in airtight containers.
  4. Seal your trash. Use trash cans with lids that seal or close tightly. Also, be sure to take the trash out of your house often and keep your bins as far from your home as you can.

Professional Help with Fall Pest Control

If you’re already mid-infestation in your home in Peekskill NY, you can count on your local pest control company to handle the problem. The expert technicians at Garrie Pest Control are well-versed in the particular pest pressures in our climate and have been removing pests from local residences for almost half a century. For a free quote, contact us today!

There’s a Mouse in the House!

A mouse found in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest ControlAs the weather starts to become less and less forgiving, all sorts of animals start looking for places to spend the winter. Here in Peekskill NY, this means the start of rodent infestations of all kinds. In particular, we have talked to lots of people year after year about not being able to figure out the sources of their problems with mice. Since they are so small and even more nimble, it can be quite tough to figure out how they are getting into your home. To learn more about how they do so and what you can do to stop them, read on for advice from the Garrie Pest Control team!

Why Do Mice Come in the House?

Mice are just like any other wild animal; they have to make sure that they are set to last through the winter with everything they need to survive. Unfortunately, our homes usually have all of those things, and if mice find your home suitable, they will not hesitate to invade. Mice are on the hunt for these three things:

  1. Food: Although it’s commonly believed that mice love cheese more than anything else, they actually prefer foods that are rich in carbohydrates. However, mice will eat just about anything that’s left out in your home.
  2. Shelter: Mice play a vital role in their ecosystems as prey for all sorts of predators. To keep safe, they have to find a reliable shelter.
  3. Warmth: Because mice do not hibernate, they need to find a consistent source of warmth during the colder winter months.

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

Mice are one of the stealthiest and most adaptable pests in Peekskill NY. This makes DIY mice control quite difficult, but possible if you are diligent. Here are our top tips for at-home mice control:

  • Seal any holes that could give them access to the inside of your home. This could mean installing brush strips on doors, screens on windows and vents, and sealing holes in your roofing or plumbing.
  • Store and seal your food as soon as you are done eating, and be sure to clean dishes and spills promptly after meals.
  • Maintain your lawn to keep the grass short and yard waste cleared. Mice can find hiding places and food to eat in your yard.

Rodent Control for Peekskill NY Homeowners

Do you know what to do if there’s a mouse in the house? In the fall here in New York, one mouse probably means many more. The larger the infestation, the harder it is to tackle it on your own. That’s where the rodent control experts at Garrie Pest Control come in. With top-tier tactics crafted to handle the specific rodent issues that we’ve seen dozens of Peekskill residents face, we promise to have your home mouse-free before the winter sets in! For a free quote, contact us today.