Although they prefer living in wild and natural areas, deer mice still may make their way into human habitations. This especially may be the case when homes and businesses are located in rural or suburban sections around Yardley. However, even a home that is in a well-populated area that has an overgrown yard may have trouble with a deer mouse infestation.
Thick vegetation and undergrowth provide a multitude of hiding places for deer mice. Accordingly, deer mouse nests may be found in these overgrown areas, but the rodents will regularly emerge from concealment to seek food and water, both of which easily may be obtained from people's houses. As the weather gets colder and summer turns to fall, inquisitive deer mice may start to look for a good nesting place inside the house.
Like other rodent species, deer mice can wreak havoc inside a home. They spread filth and bacteria to all corners of the residence, any of which has the potential to make the home's human occupants seriously ill. Deer mice also contaminate the people's food supply and gnaw on or use their claws to shred a wide variety of materials found in the home.
Given their tiny size and aptitude for hiding, deer mouse infestations are difficult for homeowners to treat. An experienced pest management professional is familiar with deer mouse biology and behavior, which makes it possible to bring the population under control. Moreover, the exterminator has access to commercial-strength chemicals that make successful treatment a certainty.
Deer mice are bi-colored, which means that they have darker fur on their backs than they do on their stomachs. Even the five- to 13-centimeter long tail is bi-colored. The deer mouse has a rounded profile and a body that may measure anywhere from seven to ten centimeters long. The ears are oversized while the eyes are small and dark.
Deer mice show a distinct preference for a diet that is based on plants with fruit, nuts, seeds and berries being their primary sources of nutrition. If the deer mouse cannot get access to these types of food items, then it may eat a large number of insects. Deer mice may prepare for the winter by accumulating a cache of food.
With their ability to live on plant-based foods and protein, deer mice do very well in kitchens. Rice, pasta, vegetables, fruit, bread, peanut butter, meat and pet food commonly are contaminated by foraging deer mice.
People frequently are surprised when they discover evidence of deer mice in their homes. This usually is because they believe that their house is well sealed so that pests cannot gain entrance.
Unfortunately, deer mice are tiny, and this means that a tiny opening is all that is needed to get indoors. With their sharp teeth, deer mice may enlarge a small crack or hole in the home's exterior until they can squeeze through it. This larger opening may admit other pests or put the home in danger of water damage.
Once indoors, deer mice may gnaw on many items that include furniture, books, paper, linens and clothing. Walls, window and door frames and floors also may be damaged thanks to the deer mouse's constant gnawing.
Deer mice nests are filthy, and waste products may be distributed throughout the home. These all must be thoroughly cleaned up to prevent the family from becoming ill.
Deer mice generally try to run away when they see a person. However, if they cannot find an escape route, they can become aggressive. Bites and scratches are common wounds in these scenarios, and any injury needs to be attended to by a physician.
Any given deer mouse may be capable of spreading almost three dozen illnesses to people. However, the most common of these, while unpleasant, typically is not life-threatening. Commonly known as food poisoning, this illness arises when a person accidentally ingests contaminated food or prepares food on a contaminated surface. Medical treatment may be required, but most people recover within a few days.
Other illnesses that are spread by deer mice are far more serious. Among the most well-known of these is the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. With its flu-like symptoms, it is easy to mistake this illness for something far more innocuous. However, Hantavirus can be deadly if not promptly treated.
Signs of a deer mouse presence include:
• Caches of nuts and seeds found in and around the house
• Nests found anywhere on the property
• Grease marks on walls
• An odor of urine in the home
• A variety of materials in the home display tooth marks
• Mouse droppings found in the house
The following precautions can help to avoid deer mouse issues:
• Keep foliage and grass trimmed
• Regularly clean out attics, garages and basements
• Keep food in containers through which rodent teeth cannot gnaw
• Eliminate clutter indoors and outside
• Repair any cracks and holes in the home's exterior
• Ensure that doors are rodent-proof
Courtesy: Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
