Throughout Langhorne, deer mice are an ongoing concern. This species is meant to live in fields and forests, but with the expansion of suburban neighborhoods, deer mouse habitat is shrinking, causing them to be more frequent problems for people.
Unfortunately, deer mice thrive when they live with people. This is because homes and businesses provide many amenities that the rodents need. With food, shelter and water readily available in and around man-made structures, it is easy for this pest species to thrive. As their population grows, the deer mice may encroach in areas that are more densely populated by people. Even urban areas can be subject to infestation by this species.
Deer mice are instinctively drawn to cluttered places, both indoors and out. Whenever people allow items to cluster around the exterior of a building or in storage rooms and warehouses, deer mice are almost certain to follow. If people are not careful about ensuring that the buildings in which they live and work are sealed up against invasion by pest species, then the problem quickly gets out of hand.
People do not always know how to respond when they see the signs of a deer mouse infestation. Some will purchase a couple of mouse traps and hope that this will solve the problem, but this rarely is effective.
Deer mice are surprisingly wary of new items in their environment, like mouse traps. This means that they will avoid the traps, no matter how they are baited. Even if a mouse trap succeeds in getting one or two mice, it cannot entirely wipe out the population in the building.
Instead, a more comprehensive approach is called for. Using Integrated Pest Management techniques, exterminators work at once on all aspects of the infestation. This may mean using bait, traps, nest removal and ensuring that the building's access points are blocked. By focusing on several approaches, it is possible to end deer mouse infestations.
WHAT DO DEER MICE LOOK LIKE?
Adult members of this species are relatively small, with the largest having a body length of ten centimeters. The tail may grow to a maximum of 13 centimeters. Deer mice have lighter colored fur on their stomachs and the underside of their tails while the back and the upper side of the tail are dark brown. This mammal's small eyes are beady. Although its sight is fairly weak, the deer mouse has extraordinarily keen senses of smell and hearing.
WHAT DO DEER MICE EAT?
A plant-based diet generally is preferred by deer mouse. Fruit, berries, seeds and nuts are their most-frequent foods, but they will eat insects when protein is required. Instinctively, deer mice create caches of food close to their nests to prepare for the winter when food is likely to be scarce.
Deer mice find plenty to eat in the rooms in which people store, prepare and consume food. A few dribbles of juice on a counter or a scattering of crumbs beneath the toaster are enough to attract them. Food such as peanut butter, bread, grains, meat, vegetables, fruit and pet food all are subject to infestation by these pests.
WHERE DO DEER MICE LIVE?
Deer mice can adapt to live virtually anywhere. In nature, they will look for a spot such as a tree stump, the hollow in a tree or an abandoned animal burrow for a nesting site. This nest is lined with gathered items like roots, leaves, twigs and stems. Shed fur and feathers as well as shredded fabric and insulation also may be used to line a nest.
Deer mice love to find places to nest in buildings. Warm, dry places abound in man-made structures, and there are all sorts of fabrics and textiles that can be shredded and taken back to the nest. A soffit or wall void is a good place to nest as is any cluttered room that has cardboard boxes. In infested buildings, it is not unusual to find nests beneath large kitchen appliances or heavy equipment that typically is not movable. People also may discover deer mice nesting in cabinets, drawers and closets.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEER MICE
If one deer mouse is able to gain access to a building, then it is a certainty that there are others inside. Moreover, this species can rapidly reproduce when conditions are favorable. Living indoors definitely ensures those favorable conditions, so deer mouse problems quickly get out of control.
Sometimes, the accidental openings in a building's exterior are large enough to let the rodents crawl inside. However, deer mice will use their teeth and claws to enlarge any openings that are not quite big enough. With sharp teeth and determination, these rodents can chew their way through sheetrock, roofing tiles, siding and even wooden building frames.
Once inside, deer mice continue to use their teeth to create passageways that they use as they forage for food and other necessities. These animals do not only destroy the materials that make up the structure but also the items within it. Shredding documents, upholstery, clothing, linens and more, the signs of damage can be widespread. Even plumbing pipes and electrical wires and cords can fall victim to this rodent's persistent chewing.
ARE DEER MICE AGGRESSIVE?
Normally scared of people, deer mice in Langhorne will turn aggressive if they are cornered. Anyone who accidentally traps a deer mouse in a relatively confined space may suffer bites or scratches.
DO DEER MICE CARRY DISEASE?
Deer mice can transmit illnesses to people through a variety of means. Just one of these is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. At first, people with this illness may think that they have the flu as the symptoms are similar. When those symptoms continue and worsen, the victim is forced to seek medical attention, only to discover that they have contracted a relatively rare disease.
More common than Hantavirus is food poisoning. Deer mice contaminate food that is intended for human consumption with their saliva, feces and urine. As they walk across food preparation surfaces and kitchen equipment and utensils, they spread even more bacteria and germs. Exposure to all of these contaminated items easily can make people sick.
HOW TO DETECT DEER MICE
Signs of a deer mouse presence include:
• Walls marked by grease stains • The smell of urine permeating the building • Food caches found in hidden areas • Many items show the marks of rodent teeth • Cabinets, drawers and other furniture have nests within them
HOW TO PREVENT DEER MICE
To help protect against deer mice the following steps should be taken:
• Looking for cracks and holes in the building's exterior so they can be blocked • Eliminating outdoor and indoor clutter • Upgrading food storage so that it is pest-proof • Keeping all storage facilities clean • Cleaning kitchens and dining rooms more frequently • Getting rid of spills and crumbs as soon as they happen • Putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of in the sink or on the counter
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.
