As opposed to tiny insect pests, rodents cause noticeable damage very quickly. Outdoors, moles, voles, and gophers create a system of craters and mounds as they tunnel through a lawn. Rats and mice prefer to be cozy indoors, so they seek warm shelter in hidden areas. They will chew their way through building materials and fabrics in order to reach their ideal location.
Rodents do not chew through everything just for fun. They actually need to constantly gnaw throughout their life because of their teeth! Their teeth are open-rooted, so the teeth will continue growing unless the rodent keeps them filed down. This means that if their teeth get too long, the rodents cannot eat anymore and die from starvation. But this fact does not mean we want rats and mice chewing through everything in our homes!
As rodents continue to reproduce multiple times in their lives, they want a warm space in which to make their soft nests. Rats and mice will shred materials with their strong teeth, such as papers, fabrics, and insulation. If you find random materials shredded throughout the house, it is typically a sign of rodents living in the area.
The fact that rodents will steal our papers and clothing is frustrating enough, but it is even worse when they tear through the house or building itself. While they are small, rodents can create some big holes in the walls, furniture, and insulation, which allows the cold air to sneak in. They will even chew wiring, which can ignite into fires when electricity sparks across the gap in wiring. This is yet another health hazard of rodent infestations.
It is not worth it to wait for a rodent invasion to clear up on its own, because it will not. Rodent infestations need to be handled by the pros as soon as possible.