The house mouse, one of the most detrimental pests in the United States, is second only to humans as the most common mammal in cities across the nation. House mice are notorious nibblers who climb, jump, and swim in order to get to their favorite foods, which are often found in houses, farms, open fields, and commercial buildings. They are curious and fearless creatures that will chew through walls, electrical cables, and storage containers in order to get what they want.
How to Get Rid of Mice
Critter Control specializes in mice removal and control. Mouse contro begins with a thorough inspection to determine how severe the problem is. The more established mice are, the more involved the control process will be.
When approaching a rodent removal plan, the key to long-term success is to consider the entire mouse population. A few mouse traps won’t solve the problem. A comprehensive plan will include careful inspection, trapping, removal, exclusion, prevention, and clean up. The goal is to exterminate the current infestation, prevent future issues, and reclaim a sanitary environment. Here’s a breakdown of the thorough process:
With the reproductive rate of these animals sitting like a ticking time bomb in your home, a comprehensive mouse control program is necessary.
Home Inspection for Mice
During a rodent inspection, our inspector will thoroughly inspect your attic as well as provide a full exterior home inspection. The most common signs of rodent activity are chewing, droppings, rub marks, nesting material, and small entry points.
Mouse Traps & Mice Removal
Based on the inspection, our wildlife specialist creates a strategic trapping plan to remove the mice found in your home. Types of traps, placement of traps, and bait used in traps determines the effectiveness of rodent trapping.
Our wildlife specialist will ensure to use the most efficient and safe removal process for your home. Though the standard trapping/removal duration is normally between 5 to 14 days, the trapping process may be longer if the rodents are well established.
Mouse Control: Exclusion & Habitat Modification
Rodent exclusion is the best way to prevent mice from entering your home, but many homeowners do not protect their home until they have experienced a nuisance animal. After rodent removal, it is essential to repair any entry points on your home.
Habitat Modification to Prevent Mice
Remove trees or branches close to your roof and keep your property clear of debris can help to keep your property rodent free. Rodents love clutter and will use debris for nesting material.
Keep your garage door closed as much as possible, especially at dark. Garages are often used as storage spaces, and rodents will take advantage of any food they can get to or any items that can be used for nesting.
Additional Rodent Removal Services
Critter Control also offers recurring services to keep your home protected and under warranty.
In addition, Critter Control provides warranty options as well as an estimate for preventative services to keep your home free future rodent problems.
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Common house mice are small, slender rodents with large ears, sensitive noses, and small eyes. Their fur is typically dusty brown or dull gray on top, with lighter shades along the chin and stomach. The rodents have hairless tails that are long and scaly, and their feet are well-equipped for grasping, burrowing, and climbing. What they lack in eyesight they make up for with their other senses and continually explore their environments in order to memorize the locations of food sources, hazards, safe hideaways, and escape routes.
Common Types of Mice
Deer Mouse
White-Footed Mouse
Any areas with sufficient food sources and hiding places make good habitats for clever and adaptable house mice. They are commonly found in farms, houses, and businesses, and are capable of living in a wide range of climates. House mice have been found in corn fields, fast food restaurants, the open arctic tundra, and underground coal mines over 1,800 feet below the surface of the earth. In the wild, house mice tend to burrow underground, while they often reside in walls, furniture, or appliances in human habitations. Their nests are made up of shredded fibers, papers, or cloths and are constructed in sheltered locations.
Mice ordinarily enter homes, especially during fall and winter, in search of food and shelter. Their small size allows them to squeeze through tiny cracks and holes. House mice can also climb vertical surfaces and run along narrow wires or ropes in order to enter buildings. Once established inside a house, mice will constantly scamper throughout their territory, exploring and investigating new objects every night.
Humans need not fear attacks from these tiny creatures. However, house mice are known to cause rampant damage to property and food supplies. They can carry diseases such as salmonellosis, rickettsial pox, dermatitis, Weil’s disease, and meningitis.
The most detrimental activity of mice is their propensity to nibble on food. House mice contaminate 10 times more food than they consume, tasting everything in sight and discarding partially eaten bits of food in favor of tastier treats. While foraging, mice defecate, urinate, and shed hair, which makes food unfit for consumption by humans or other animals. They also chew through electrical wiring, which destroys appliances, causes power shorts and outages, and even leads to electrical fires.
Mouse-proofing homes can be extremely difficult, as the rodents are small and dexterous. The best way to prevent mice from entering is to secure food in rodent-proof containers, seal up obvious gaps and cracks along building exteriors, and maintain a sanitary household or business area. Because mice reproduce year-round, populations can grow quickly if not controlled or eliminated.
Whole home exclusions are the most effective means of mouse control. Excluding mice from homes is a tough but necessary task. Even after homeowners or technicians remove an infestation, the same conditions that attracted these rodents are likely to draw more. Pest control experts can do a thorough home inspection to find and fix problem areas and avoid future mouse issues.
Snap-style mouse traps, multiple-catch treadle door traps, and glue boards can be effective methods of to catch mice. However, populations of house mice are best dealt with by trained professionals. Not only do Critter Control specialists have up-to-date tools and extensive knowledge regarding mouse behavior, they are educated in humane methods of house mouse removal that keep homeowners safe.
- Baby Mice
- Dead Mice
- House Mouse Nest
- How to Get Rid of Mice
- Mice Behavior in the Winter
- Fear of Mice
- How to Catch a Mouse
- Life Cycle of a Mouse
- Mice in Attic Removal
- Mice in Crawl Space
- Mice in the House
- Mice in the Walls
- Mice in Yard
- Mice Problems
- Mouse Poop & Droppings
- Mice in Pantry
- Mouse Noises
- Mouse Repellent
- Mouse Tracks
- Mouse Traps & Bait
- Mice vs. Rats
- Types of Mice
- Diseases That Mice Carry
- Mouse Appearance
- Where Do Mice Hide?
- White Footed Mice & Lyme Disease
- Diet of a White Footed Mouse
- White Footed Mouse Habitat
- White Footed Mice vs. Deer Mice