Lots of people are noticing increased rat and mouse activity in Lake Tahoe.
Brett Williams, broker for Agate Bay Realty, says, "Well, it was in the spring when we noticed we were seeing a little more activity at certain properties."
Williams says they've been dealing with mice taking over a few of their vacation homes all season.
They're not the only ones with this issue.
Hardware stores such as Mountain Hardware and Sports have seen their shelves cleared out of traps.
General Manager Rob Curtis says he's been having to order more of the supplies twice a week instead of once to keep up with demand.
"I can tell when people walk in that they're heading towards the mouse traps," he said. "They all have a similar look to them, and there's been a lot more people inquiring this year, definitely. Our sales are probably up 50% from what they have been in the past."
Pest control companies have been keeping extra busy, too.
Advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tells us they're getting an increase in calls for service, as well as continuing to monitor activity.
Technical Development Specialist Lance Van Zant says, "We get more phone calls for customers, existing customers, and new customers who are looking for help due to the rodent activity."
And while some places, like Agate Bay Realty, are having issues with mice, Van Zant says most customers they're helping in Lake Tahoe are specifically dealing with roof rats.
"They're great climbers," he said. "They love the trees, and obviously that's a great place for them, but they love to get onto the roofs, and they also burrow as well."
Advanced IPM monitors rodent activity and says it's normal to see more rats and mice around this time of year.
"The big thing is they need that warmth, they need that shelter, so throughout the entire winter you could have activity," Van Zant explains.
And it's not just the seasons that could have an impact.
El Dorado County shared a statement saying, "Rodents are in nature, and if there is an increase in construction or a disturbance in their habitat, they will move to seek new shelter."
Van Zant says it's best to take preventative measures by modifying the environment around you, "Trimming trees so it's not touching the building, trimming the shrubs off the ground so there's no harborage for them is a big one, sealing up holes around the building."
And if you think you might have mice or rats, he says, look for signs such as holes and chew marks, paws in dusty areas, and droppings left behind.
Hardware stores are warning people to buy traps or poison beforehand since their shelves keep clearing out.
"We're keeping things filled up, but they're going as quickly as we stack them in there," said Curtis.
Williams says since Agate Bay Realty has been taking preventative measures, leaving traps, and notifying guests, activity has been becoming less. "It's starting to tail off. We're not at zero, but it's tailing off."
