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To determine if you have a rat or mouse infestation, look for several key differences. The most obvious is the size of the rodent: rats are significantly larger with thicker bodies, while mice are much smaller and more slender. You can also identify them by their droppings; rat droppings are larger and rounder, about the size of a raisin, while mouse droppings are smaller, like a grain of rice, and often have pointed ends. Other signs include the sounds they make, as rats produce louder scratching and gnawing noises due to their size. Behaviorally, rats tend to be more cautious, whereas mice are more curious and might be seen more often. Additionally, rat nests are typically larger than those of mice. If you are unable to see the pest or find clear evidence, a professional inspection can provide a definitive identification.

Spotting a single scorpion in the home doesn’t mean you have a full-blown infestation, but it does mean there’s a way for them to get inside. Other scorpions could easily use the same method, like entering through an air vent, as these arachnids are social creatures that tend to live in groups. If you see a baby scorpion, however, that likely indicates a nest somewhere in the home. This is also true if you spot a scorpion with an infant on its back.

Brown recluse spiders are attracted to homes in search of warm, dry, and dark spots that provide easy access to insects. An existing bug problem is a primary attractant, as spiders follow their food source. Other factors that attract brown recluse spiders include the presence of anything that might lure insects, such as food left out or poorly sealed trash cans. They are also drawn to excessive outdoor lighting, untended wood or cardboard boxes, and dark areas with nooks and crannies for nesting, like woodpiles or dirt piles.

Trapping is generally not recommended, as even gentle traps can become as inhumane as kill traps if a rabbit is caught and stuck for several days. Additionally, capturing one rabbit isn’t likely to prevent other rabbits from wandering your yard. If you choose this method, it's essential to use live traps designed for humane capture and release of the rabbits in a suitable, safe habitat far from your property. Be sure to set a reminder and check the trap at least twice per day.