A house mouse has a tail as long as the head and body combined and short hind feet. Usually, they are dark grey, with a few having light-brown backs and bellies. They can reproduce up to 10 litters per year, with about five babies per litter.
How Do Mice Get Into The Home?
A house mouse lives for about a year and usually enters the home during the fall and winter seasons, searching for food, heat, and shelter. They can squeeze through a crack as small as 1 cm and enter through gaps in the door or holes, foundation, and walls. Often, you realize you have a house mouse when you see droppings (poop) under stoves, under sinks, near food, or refrigerators. You may also discover holes in bags and boxes that contain garbage or food.
What Problems Do Mice Cause?
Mice can destroy home appliances, causing damage by gnawing on wires. They can also chew books, insulation, building materials, paper, and furniture. They put germs on food with their hair, urine, and droppings, which can cause people to become sick if consumed. Mice also carry mites, fleas, and a disease called hantavirus.
Signs That Mice Are In Your Home
Some signs that you may have one or many mice in your house include:
- Gnawed holes
- Scampering noises
- Droppings
- Rodent nests
- Urine odors
- Unusual pet behavior
- Rodent runways
How To Control A Mouse Infestation
Integrated pest management is a good way to control mouse infestation at home, and this involves using different methods simultaneously. The method includes:
- Chemical methods like poison
- Physical methods like traps
The very best way to deal with a mouse infestation is to hire a pest control professional like Pied Piper Pest Control!
You can also mouse-proof your home by making use of steel wool to seal holes and openings such as pipes, windows, foundations, doors, walls, and anywhere else they could get in from.
How To Catch Mice
It’s not safe to use poison bait around food, pets, or children, which makes trapping a better option in many situations. When using a snap trap, ensure you have a good bait and set the trap very well. The all-around best way to catch mice and make sure they don’t come back is to hire a licensed pest control professional! Be sure to tell the pest control professional if you have pets or children so they can safely remove the mice from your home!
Contact Pied Piper Pest Control!
If you live in the New Orleans area and have noticed mouse infestation in your home, Pied Piper Pest Control is always there to help whenever you need a professional to handle the situation! Give us a call at (504) 366-1333 or fill out the contact form on our website to get in touch with us!