With the potential to threaten human health and cause massive damage to property, white-footed mice are a major concern for people in Langhorne. These small rodents excel at keeping themselves hidden during the day. They emerge at night to forage for food, but it is possible to see them out and about during the day when the population is dense.
Whether white-footed mice are marauding by night or by day, they have no business being in residences and commercial structures. Unfortunately, it is not too difficult for these rodents to keep their activities a secret, at least for a little while. This gives them time to reproduce, increase their numbers and cause even more widespread damage. Even worse, white-footed mice expose people to numerous diseases.
How should property owners react when they suspect that white-footed mice are on the property? Some of them will decide to put out a mousetrap, hoping that this will solve the situation. However, mousetraps typically are not successful at completely ending a rodent infestation. Traps can kill individual animals, but this is only one part of the equation for controlling white-footed mice.
A multi-pronged approach is far more comprehensive and successful. Usually, this involves discovering how the rodents are entering the building, locating all of their nests and using more than one eradication method. The infestation is at an end only when the entrances are blocked, the nests are removed and the last rodent is gone.
A licensed pest management professional takes on all of these tasks and more.
WHAT DO WHITE-FOOTED MICE LOOK LIKE?
On the rodent's back is thick, reddish brown fur, but the feet and belly feature white fur. The tail shares this bi-color pattern. Full-grown white-footed mice generally are about five to eight inches long with a tail that is approximately half that length.
WHAT DO WHITE-FOOTED MICE EAT?
A plant-based diet is ideal for the white-footed mouse, but it does eat small amounts of protein as well. Consequently, this rodent usually is classified as omnivorous. Its favorite foods include nuts, seeds, fruit, flowers and grains. Substitute items like fungi, bark, wood and leaves will be eaten as well. Insects are the main source of protein.
Living in homes and businesses is a recipe for success for white-footed mice. This is because people and rodents share many of the same taste in food. Any room in which food is eaten, prepared or stored is subject to infestation. Even the tiniest traces of food will attract these animals thanks to their keen sense of smell.
Some of the foods that are most commonly contaminated by white-footed mice include honey, peanut butter, jelly, maple syrup, seeds, nuts, bread, meat and food that is intended for pets.
It is not uncommon to find caches of food near the nests that are used by white-footed mice. They store food for those times when food sources may be scarce.
WHERE DO WHITE-FOOTED MICE LIVE?
This is a thriving species that is under no threat of becoming endangered. In fact, white-footed mice exceed all expectations as survivors in an abundance of environments. Their natural habitat includes forests, mountains and meadows where they may nest in a hollow tree or a nest that has been abandoned by a bird or other small animal.
Populations of these rodents become particularly large in agricultural areas. The abundance of plants and seeds can cause a major reproductive boom. Even in suburban and urban areas, white-footed mice are capable of thriving. Landscaping and gardens are rich resources for nesting and food, and water typically is easy to find.
These pests frequently make their way indoors, squeezing through fissures and holes that are surprisingly small. Curious by nature, white-footed mice will enlarge openings in building exteriors using their claws and teeth. They are most likely to invade rooms that are infrequently used by people. Accordingly, nests may be found in basements, crawl spaces, storage rooms, attics, sheds and garages. Of course, they may be found in any room that is excessively cluttered, especially if the many items in the room rarely are disturbed.
White-footed mice frequently make their way into wall voids and soffits with drawers, cupboards and closets also serving as likely nesting sites.
In any white-footed mouse infestation, it is essential that all traces of nests and food caches be removed. A thorough cleanup is required, and if these steps are neglected, the danger for illness and continuing property damage remains.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY WHITE-FOOTED MICE
Man-made structures promise easy living for rodents like the white-footed mouse. Accordingly, they will thoroughly explore the exterior of a building in an attempt to find a way inside. Even a minuscule gap or crack can serve this purpose, and if an opening is not wide enough, the mouse has the teeth and claws that are necessary to enlarge it.
Nesting indoors is a good idea as it offers adequate shelter and security. White-footed mice will use their sharp teeth and claws on everything they encounter. Textiles and papers will be shredded so that they can be used as nesting material. Furniture, the frames of windows and doors, support joists, drywall and other common items all may sustain damage. Rodents further chew on wiring, cords and even plumbing pipes. The resulting damage can be widespread and difficult to repair.
ARE WHITE-FOOTED MICE AGGRESSIVE?
Members of the species naturally are timid around people and larger animals, but they will defend themselves if they are cornered. Thanks to the sharpness of their teeth and claws, they are well able to do so. This is one of the ways that they can spread illness to people.
DO WHITE-FOOTED MICE CARRY DISEASE?
These small rodents transmit diseases to people through various methods. The most common illness associated with a white-footed mouse infestation in Langhorne is food poisoning. This occurs after the rodents have infested various food items in the pantry or kitchen. Consuming this food can make people seriously ill.
It further is possible for white-footed mice to contaminate indoor air with their waste products. Unsurprisingly, these rodents are not careful about where these waste products are left behind. When in air ducts and vents, these substances easily foul the indoor air.
Lyme disease is a real threat when white-footed mice are near. Many of these rodents are infested with the blacklegged tick, which is renowned for being a carrier of this illness. People who develop swollen lymph nodes, pain in the joints and a fever may be exhibiting the early signs of Lyme disease.
HOW TO DETECT WHITE-FOOTED MICE
Signs of a white-footed mouse infestation include:
• Landscaping and plants receiving noticeable damage • Marks from teeth and claws on many surfaces • Upholstered furniture, towels, clothing and other textiles showing signs of shredding • Rodent droppings found on the premises
HOW TO PREVENT WHITE-FOOTED MICE
To help prevent white-footed mouse issues the following steps should be taken:
• Cover up cracks and openings in the building's exterior • Adopt the use of rodent-proof food storage containers • Routinely clean garbage cans • Ensure that tight lids are affixed to garbage cans • Get rid of clutter around the property • Prevent landscaping from touching building exteriors • Fix all known water leaks
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.
