Many people are unaware that mice have moved into their home. Primarily nocturnal creatures, the house mouse has adapted remarkabl...
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"Since mice are most active at night, homeowners frequently are unaware that they are playing host to them." These are the thoughts of Steve Anderson, who has been dealing with mice infestations for over 25 years.
Athough mice can occasionally be seen during the day time as they scavenge for food, they are largely nocturnal creatures. And contrary to popular opinion, dog and cat owners provide a bounty for them as mice can survive quite well on very small amounts of food.
The signs of an infestation include mouse droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and even their tracks. "Pest controllers are trained to look for these signs and, of course, know their favorite places to nest," says Steve.
The house mouse arrived in the UK with settlers from Asia and elsewhere. They often live around humans in much the same fashion as Norway rats and roof rats, but mice are far more common.
"The difficulties people encounter with a mouse invasion has to do with how swiftly they breed," says Steve. "A female can have anywhere from five to ten litters of five or six young. They are born between 19 and 21 days after they mate and their young reach reproductive maturity in six to ten weeks. The result is that a single pair of mice can rapidly multiply wherever they can find a steady source of food and water."
House mouse infestations are ten to twenty times more common than rats. "We all know the importance of sanitation to deny food sources," says Steve, "but it is equally important, if not more-so, that a complete inspection of one's home be undertaken to identify points of entry."
Mice can squeeze through an opening slightly larger than a quarter inch across. In addition, they are excellent climbers on any rough wall vertical surface. They can run along wire cables and can even jump up to twelve inches from the floor to a flat surface. Denying access to mice and other rodents should be a priority for a homeowner.
Eliminating all gaps and openings larger than a quarter inch is the first step in mouse control and steel wool makes a good temporary plug. All cracks around the foundation area as well as around openings for water pipes, vents, and utility cables should be should be sealed with metal or concrete. "Do not use plastic screening or other gnawable materials," says Steve.
If you discover that your home has mice, Steve recommends professional pest control services. "In general, homeowners do not know how many traps are necessary, are reluctant to use baits or glueboards, and do not like having to deal with dead mice. The result is an effort that is not aggressive enough to rid an active infestation. The biggest mistake is releasing live mice back into the outdoors," says Steve. "That's just an invitation for them to take up residence with you or someone else."
The most serious aspect of a mouse infestation goes beyond the damage they can do to a property. They are known to transmit pathogens for diseases like salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning. Parasites such as lice and ticks are also attracted to mice and rats.
Article provided by SDA Pest Control