Owners of Yardley area residences, farms and commercial buildings all have reason to fear house mice. This common pest is recognized as being among the most economically critical pests in the country.
What makes the common house mouse such a problem is partially because the species consumes food that is intended for consumption by people or pets. Any food that the mice infest is contaminated and must be thrown away. Additionally, these pests have an enormous appetite for seeds, posing a threat to agricultural fields and to home gardeners.
However, the primary reason people should seek common house mouse control is due to the numerous diseases carried by these pests. Many of these can be quickly and easily transmitted to people, frequently without physical contact occurring between people and mice. These illnesses run the gamut from the mildly annoying to the deadly, making early detection and control essential.
When people see gnaw marks around the property as well as mouse droppings and tracks, these are signs that a common house mouse infestation is underway. If any type of infestation is suspected, then the most sensible thing to do is to call an exterminator. Infestations are almost always worse than people realize because pests tend to hide during the day and be active at night.
An exterminator uses advanced Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, techniques that are designed to deal with current infestations, prevent new ones and return the property to a hygienic state.
WHAT DO HOUSE MICE LOOK LIKE?
With their small eyes and large ears, common house mice are well adapted to be most active in darkness. Adults are quite small, usually weighing about half an ounce and measuring no more than about seven inches including a tail that may be three to four inches long. Gray and brown are common colors for this rodent.
WHAT DO HOUSE MICE EAT?
Common house mice naturally gravitate toward cereal grains and seeds, but they do not restrict their dietary habits to these items. With their heightened senses of smell, taste and hearing, common house mice are adept at finding food sources whether indoors or out. They eat frequently, and they may use their climbing skills to access food that is stored in elevated places.
In addition to grains and seeds, common house mice may eat insects, meat, chocolate, peanut butter, cheese, bread, dog food and many other items.
WHERE DO HOUSE MICE LIVE?
When it comes to adapting to different climates and environments, house mice excel over many other species. They can be found just about anywhere on the planet, and although they frequently live in human habitations, some common house mice spend their entire lives outdoors.
When they live outdoors, a house mouse might use a pile of brush or vegetation as a nest. Wood and rock piles are other likely spots. House mice living in a city may create a burrow in a landscape planter or beneath a shrub. Some members of the species will establish a nest very close to man-made structures like barns, garages and sheds while others nest in equipment or machinery that is stored outside and does not get used often.
When common house mice come indoors, which is frequent, they may use a drawer, wall void, false ceiling or voids beneath major appliances as nesting sites. Clutter in the garage, the void beneath a floor-mounted cabinet or a closet with crowded shelves also may host house mouse nests. As long as a space provides adequate shelter, is dark and is relatively undisturbed, it can look like attractive habitat to the common house mouse.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY HOUSE MICE
By engaging in natural behaviors like nest building and gnawing, house mice cause significant property damage. Insulation receives severe damage both from shredding and waste products.
Large electrical appliances and machinery frequently fall victim to the chewing of determined common house mice. The mice chew on wiring, causing the equipment to malfunction or short circuit. Fires may be caused in some circumstances.
From garages to museums, common house mice can wreak havoc, destroying books, documents, clothing, artwork, tools and much more. Similarly, a house mouse infestation can be destructive to landscaping. The mice chew on the bark that covers young trees, eat huge amounts of seeds and damage crops before they can be harvested.
ARE HOUSE MICE AGGRESSIVE?
This species is known to be territorial, with a dominant male controlling a certain area. Typically, he lives with several females and their young. Dominant males in neighboring territories certainly do behave toward each other with aggression. However, this behavior rarely is shown to people, which mice consider a predator. Their instinct is to run from humans, but if they cannot do this, they may attack with their teeth and claws.
DO HOUSE MICE CARRY DISEASE?
Common house mice transmit diseases to people through three main methods. Urine and feces from these rodents spread Hantavirus, salmonella and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. It is not necessary for people to touch rodent waste products for these illnesses to spread. Waste products dry and transform into dust, making it possible for people to breathe contaminated air, which may contain Hantavirus. Touching a food preparation surface that is contaminated by Salmonella may cause food poisoning.
Common house mice also spread diseases through the parasites with which they are infested. This is how Lyme disease and Colorado tick fever are spread.
While bites are not common, they can spread rate-bite fever. This illness also may be spread through contact with a dead rodent or consuming contaminated food or beverages.
HOW TO DETECT HOUSE MICE
Signs of a house mouse problem include:
• Droppings found on floors or in cabinets, drawers and closets • Grease marks seen on floors and walls • Scratching noises under floorboards, in wall voids or in false ceilings • Nests made of shredded materials • Mouse footprints on dusty surfaces • Seeing either living or dead mice
HOW TO PREVENT HOUSE MICE
Use the following tips to help prevent a house mouse infestation:
• Use caulk and steel wool to eliminate gaps and cracks in building exteriors • Replace loosened weather stripping and mortar • Place door sweeps on all exterior doors • Ensure that attics, basements and crawl spaces have adequate ventilation • Prevent shrubberies from contacting buildings • Get rid of clutter
HOW TO TREAT FOR RODENTS
Successful rodent control typically involves a series of steps, including trapping, poison baits, along with proper species identification.
Those who suspect a rodent problem should contact Newtown Termite & Pest Control. Our experienced pest control professionals know how to inspect a structure to determine the type and scope of the infestation involved. They will then execute the appropriate plan of action to resolve the specific rodent issue plaguing your home or business while identifying entry points to help protect against future problems.
