18. May 2026

Signs You Might Have Rats or Mice in Your Home

Pest Control Advice for Evesham & The Cotswolds

There are few sounds more guaranteed to make you worry than hearing mysterious scratching in the walls at 2am.

Was it the house settling? The wind? A ghost?

Possibly.
But if it happens more than once… there’s a fair chance you’ve got rats or mice looking for somewhere warm and dry to stay especially during this cold, wet weather across Evesham and the Cotswolds.

As a local family-run pest control company, we get calls every week from homeowners, pubs, restaurants, farms and businesses dealing with rodent problems. The tricky thing is that rats and mice are experts at staying hidden until the problem becomes an infestation.

Here are some of the most common signs to look out for.

1. Scratching Noises in Walls or Lofts

One of the first signs people notice is scratching, scurrying or gnawing sounds usually at night.

Rats and mice are most active when the house goes quiet, so you’ll often hear them:

• In loft spaces
• Behind kitchen units
• Under floorboards
• Inside cavity walls
• In garages or sheds

Mice tend to sound lighter and quicker, while rats are usually louder and heavier just because of their size.

And no despite what people think, they generally do not “just go away on their own.”

2. Droppings Around the Home

Not the nicest topic, but definitely one of the clearest signs.

Mouse droppings are small and dark, usually around the size of a grain of rice. Rat droppings are larger.

You’ll often find them:

• Under sinks
• In cupboards
• Along skirting boards
• Near pet food
• In loft insulation
• Behind appliances

Fresh droppings are dark and soft. Older ones become dry and crumbly.

3. Gnaw Marks and Damage

Rodents constantly chew because their teeth never stop growing.

This means they’ll happily gnaw:

• Food packaging
• Wood
• Plastic pipes
• Loft materials
• Electrical wiring

Fun fact: Rats can chew through plastic, wood, aluminium and even weak concrete. Unfortunately this means they can make their own entry points into your property.

Chewed wires are one of the biggest hidden dangers as they can increase the risk of electrical fires.

4. A Strong Musky Smell

A rodent infestation often has a distinctive stale ammonia smell, especially in enclosed spaces.

If a room suddenly smells odd and you can’t work out why, it’s worth investigating further.

The smell is usually stronger:

• Under kitchen cabinets
• In lofts
• In airing cupboards
• Around stored boxes
• In commercial storage areas

5. Pets Acting Strange

Dogs and cats are often the first to notice rodents before humans do.

If your pet suddenly becomes obsessed with:

• A kitchen appliance
• A wall
• The loft hatch
• Under decking
• Cupboards

…there’s usually a reason.

Pets can hear movement long before we can.

6. Grease Marks Along Walls

Rats especially tend to follow the same routes repeatedly.

As they move, the oils in their fur leave dark smear marks along walls, pipes and skirting boards.

You may also notice visible tracks in dusty loft spaces or garages.

Why Rodent Problems Get Worse Quickly

A lot of people wait because they hope it’s “just one mouse.”

Unfortunately, rodents breed incredibly fast.

A single pair of mice can lead to dozens more in a surprisingly short space of time, especially when they’ve found warmth, shelter and easy access to food.

Cold and rainy weather across Worcestershire and the Cotswolds tends to push rodents indoors even faster.

What To Do If You Suspect Rats or Mice

The sooner you deal with the problem, the easier it usually is to control.

A proper pest control inspection can help identify:

• Entry points
• Nesting areas
• The type of rodent involved
• Any reason they’re being attracted to the property
• The most effective treatment method 

We can also advise customers on proofing work to help stop rodents returning in future.

Local Pest Control in Evesham & The Cotswolds

We provide professional rat control and mouse control services across:

• Evesham
• Pershore
• Broadway
• Chipping Campden
• Moreton-in-Marsh
• The wider Cotswolds and Worcestershire areas

As a family-run pest control company, we know how stressful rodent problems can be especially when they start keeping you awake at night.

If you think you may have rats or mice in your home or business, it’s always better to get it checked sooner rather than later.