Young woman holding a dead mouse by the tail in her kitchen
Rodent Control

How Do You Know if Your House Is Infested With Mice?

By Planet Friendly Pest Control·2 min read

Did you know that around 15 million households.) in America report seeing rodents at least once every year?

Preventing mice is a lot easier than getting rid of them, but even the cleanest homeowners can deal with rodents at some point in their lives. If you have a suspicion that you're sharing your home with unwelcome roommates, then you might be wondering what you can do to diagnose the issue.

Do you think your home could be infested with mice? Read on so you can understand some of the telltale signs that warrant a call to a pest control company.

01

You Hear Strange Noises at Night

One of the first signs of mice is that you hear weird scratching or scuttling noises at night. Rodents are nocturnal animals since they try their best to avoid getting caught by us.

If you're awake in the evening, keep your ear out for unusual sounds. Scratching in your walls could mean that mice are setting up camp in your home.

02

You Spot Droppings

If you're searching for undeniable proof that you have a rodent problem, then you should be on the lookout for rodent droppings. Rodents are one of the largest types of pests, so their droppings look like pellets.

Obviously you don't want to leave droppings in your home, but it's important to be careful when you clean. Mice droppings could expose you to hantavirus, so you must follow the CDC cleaning guidelines.

03

There's Damage to Your Food or Home

It's important to call rodent control if your home is getting damaged in any way. Mice scratch and bite through all kinds of materials to get to food, so you could find holes.

If food isn't accessible to the mice, then they'll try to eat their way through packaging and containers to get to your food. Scope out your kitchen to find signs of tampering.

04

There's a Bad Smell You Can't Place

Have you been keeping up with your cleaning routine but you keep smelling something funky? Your home could be soiled with mice urine or even dead mice if the infestation is large enough.

Cats are excellent hunters. If you have one as a pet, watch their behavior and see if they're interested in a particular area since they could be hunting.

05

You've Found a Nest

The last major sign of mice infestation is finding a nest. Mice like to have cozy nests near their food sources, which means your kitchen will be the ideal spot.

Mice use materials like fabric, plant matter, paper, and anything soft and warm to build their nests.

06

Is Your Home Infested With Mice?

Learning that your home is infested with mice is an unsettling experience. However, diagnosing the problem will get you one step closer to eliminating them from your home.

Hiring a high-quality pest control company is the key to tackling a rodent issue as fast as possible. Contact us so you can book an appointment.

Let's Get Started, Click Here.

There are several ways to tell whether your home is infested with mice. You can keep reading to learn more about these signs.

Written by

Planet Friendly Pest Control

Eco-conscious pest control for homes with pets across Southern Maryland & Northern Virginia — serving local homeowners since 2010.....

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    Google review · Sep 2026

    Alex was great! Very professional and explained the whole process before doing any work. We had a wasp nest in our wall, getting in through a seam between our brick and siding. I thought it would be a costly problem, but it was taken care of in about 15 minutes.

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    Google review · Sep 2026

    I am very pleased with the work of Planet Friendly Pest Control. I had a large wasp nest in the garage and they came out to treat it the same day! The process was clear and professional. I was told the price when I called and they didn't try to upsell me on a monthly or quarterly contract. As mentioned above, they came out the same day I called and they texted me when they were on their way. They treated the nest and then came back a week later to confirm it was taken care of and removed the nest. It's now been a couple of weeks since the initial visit and no sign of new wasps! I would not hesitate to use them again.

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    Google review · Sep 2026

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    Google review · Sep 2026

    Great service. Wasps eradicated the next day.

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    Google review · Aug 2026

    Tech was very nice, explained what the chemical is designed to do.

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    Google review · Jul 2026

    I want to sincerely thank Planet Friendly Pest Control and its owner, Gene Wright, for their immediate response and action to deal with a hive of Bald Face Hornets who, unbeknownst to me, had taken home in a fair size shrub at the back of my house. As I attempted to trim the shrub, I was swarmed by Hornets and stung 8 or 9 times before I could get to safety. I left my tractor and tools in a hurry and was afraid to retrieve them until the bee issue was addressed. Again, PFPC responded quickly and allowed me to get my tools and continue my recovery from the bee stings. I considered the price to be very fair for the treatment of the issue at hand and the sharing of knowledge to avoid further such mishaps. I will only call PFPC when in need of pest control.

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    Google review · Jul 2026

    Gene was honest and thorough.

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    Google review · Jul 2026

    Roger came out and killed hornets in large nest on our house. It was taken care of the day after I called for service.

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    Google review · Jun 2026

    Planet Friendly has been doing our pest control for several years now. They are reliable, and perform a great service for us. We are notified by email when the appointment is confirmed. They are always professional and knowledgeable.

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    Google review · Jun 2026

    Really appreciate Roger coming out to the house to not only treat for common insects that like to make their way into the house (regularly scheduled maintenance), but also exterminate a hornet nest we found on our deck this last week. Great service, arrives on schedule (and sends a text with arrival time when he’s on his way), and most importantly - no critters coming inside my house - or hornets potentially stinging us. Recommend Planet Friendly Pest Control to anyone looking for an exterminator.

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    Google review · Jun 2026

    Great service. No bugs in the house! They quietly and quickly get the job done, no hastle.

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    Roger was very kind and professional. He did an excellent job attending to areas of the exterior of our home that required extra attention.

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    Google review · Jun 2026

    Gene Wright came highly recommended by multiple neighbors. He came out the same day I called and showed great knowledge about our mouse problem! Gene was responsible, knowledgeable and a delight to deal with. We highly recommend Planet Friendly Pest Control.

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    Google review · Apr 2026

    This is my third year using Planet Friendly to control ants in my home. I have yet to see an ant. What a relief. This is a real necessity where I live. Thank you.

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