How common are house mouse infestations in Warminster? Most property owners are shocked to learn how many homes and businesses develop rodent problems each year.
Unfortunately, people delay seeking professional help even when confronted with evidence that house mice are present. Their first step is to visit the hardware store to buy traps. What they do not realize is that house mice are good at avoiding all but the most strategically placed traps. Moreover, traps are not sufficient means for controlling house mice outbreaks.
That is because for every individual pest that is seen, dozens more are lurking behind the scenes. House mice are adept at hiding, especially during the day. This is when they stick close to their nests, resting for the nighttime when they emerge to forage in kitchens, pantries and dining rooms for food.
Even when people do not see house mice, they may be aware of their presence because of waste products that the animals leave behind. Moreover, the pests chew and claw all sorts of items such as furniture and books, further giving away their presence. Even more worrisome than the damage house mice cause is the illnesses that they carry.
Dozens of diseases may be transmitted between house mice and people. Ranging from simple food poisoning to Hantavirus, some of these diseases may prove to be lethal. It is not necessary for people to see or handle infected rodents to get sick. Accordingly, people are at risk for becoming seriously ill whenever house mice are near.
The only way to reliably get rid of house mouse infestations is to hire a pest management professional to eradicate them. Using baits, traps and other specialized products, it is possible to end house mouse infestations.
WHAT DO HOUSE MICE LOOK LIKE?
With body lengths of between two and three inches, house mice are tiny. Their tails may add three or four inches to their overall length, and these rodents are covered with thick fur that may be gray or brown. However, the stomach is a lighter color, usually off-white. General characteristics of the species include large ears, pointed noses and rounded bodies.
WHAT DO HOUSE MICE EAT?
Grains, seeds and fruit are favorite foods for house mice. However, one of the adaptations that makes this species so successful is that they are omnivorous. This means that they consume meat, fish and insects in addition to plant material.
Gardeners and landscaping professionals fear house mouse infestations because populations of these rodents are capable of eating incredible amounts of plants and seeds. People who try to grow produce or care for fruit trees may find their efforts come to naught because of scavenging house mice.
When indoors, house mice wreak havoc in any rooms in which food is stored or consumed. Even a minuscule spill of crumbs is enough to attract them. Peanut butter, chocolate, cheese, rice, pasta, baked goods, meat and pet food all are vulnerable to being infested by house mice.
WHERE DO HOUSE MICE LIVE?
Warm summers may lead house mice to live in the outdoors for a few months, but they will move back indoors as soon as the weather turns foul. It is an unfortunate reality that people sometimes allow rodents to come into their homes and offices by not ensuring that these structures are pest proof.
What does it mean to have a pest-proof building? Typically, it means that the exterior of the building does not have gaps, cracks and holes through which it is easy for pests to enter the structure. Such openings may occur when the building sustains damage in a storm or through ordinary wear and tear. At other times, entrances are created when a door or window is crookedly hung or a gap is left beneath a garage door. When house mice find openings that are too small for them to wiggle through, they will make them bigger using their claws and teeth.
House mouse nests may be found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, wall voids and soffits. The open spaces beneath major appliances or heavy equipment also may be accommodating. Any drawers or cupboards with contents that are rarely disturbed could be good nesting sites as well. Virtually any cluttered room that is used for storage and is not frequently cleaned or inhabited by people may be ideal for a house mouse infestation.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY HOUSE MICE
For such tiny animals, house mice are responsible for shocking amounts of structural and other damage. Building exteriors are damaged by teeth and claws as the animals try to find a way indoors. Insulation, fabric and textiles are shredded and carried back to the nest. People may find that their books, documents and furniture all are destroyed.
Rodents are infamous for gnawing on absolutely everything they encounter. This includes furniture as well as cords and wiring. More than one structure fire is caused every year by curious rodents chewing through electrical components. Similarly, structures may suffer water leaks after house mice gnaw on vulnerable pipes.
With their ability to destroy masonry, brick, wood, drywall and more, house mice are bad news whenever they congregate in or near man-made structures.
ARE HOUSE MICE AGGRESSIVE?
People are predators as far as house mice are concerned. Consequently, the rodents do everything they can to avoid contact with people. Confrontations become inevitable as the rodent population grows, as it virtually always does when members of the species have access to plenty of food and adequate shelter.
These confrontations can be extremely dangerous for people as they may be bitten or scratched. The wounds are painful, but it is possible that various diseases may be spread through such contact. A house mouse that believes itself to be cornered will attack with little or no provocation.
DO HOUSE MICE CARRY DISEASE?
With the potential to be infected with more than three dozen diseases, house mice are a significant health risk. This is the main reason why it is inadvisable to allow infestations to continue for even a moment longer than necessary.
Urine and feces from house mice may be left indiscriminately around the property during an infestation. These waste products are responsible for transmitting many illnesses to people including lymphocytic choriomeningitis and Hantavirus. Salmonella bacteria similarly may be present in waste products, causing food poisoning and other health concerns.
Parasites that infect house mice additionally may make people sick. Colorado tick fever and Lyme disease both are spread by ticks that are commonly found on house mice, and bubonic plague is spread by infected fleas. Rat-bite fever may be contracted by anyone who is bitten by a house mouse.
HOW TO DETECT HOUSE MICE
Signs of a house mouse infestation include:
• People are disturbed by squeaking noises behind walls • Pets behave strangely when indoors • Minuscule footprints are observed on dusty surfaces • Marks from claws and teeth are left on furniture and other items • Rodent waste products are discovered in buildings
HOW TO PREVENT HOUSE MICE
To help prevent house mouse issues the following steps should be taken:
• Block gaps and cracks in building exteriors • Keep garbage cans clean • Cut back trees and plants so they are not overgrown • Do not allow tree branches to overhang the roof • Store food in pest-proof containers • Keep kitchen and dining surfaces clean • Vacuum and mop floors more frequently • Routinely clean storage rooms
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.
