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Common Questions About House Mice

How do rats and mice differ?

Rats and mice are both rodents but they can be quite different. For starters, rats are much larger than mice, and they are much more capable of causing damage in the home. However, since mice are smaller, they are able to go undetected for longer, and thus grow to larger numbers and increase the risk of disease spread.

Do I have a mouse or a rat infestation?

Rat and mouse infestations can be similar, but the size difference between the two species also comes into play here. Since rats are bigger, their droppings will be noticeably bigger, and they will resemble black grains of rice. House mice have much smaller droppings, so you will be able to tell the difference by locating these in areas of high activity. Besides their droppings, rats and mice will leave behind very similar signs, and the only other way to tell which is responsible for the infestation is to see one of these rodents out in the open.

Are mice dangerous?

Despite their small size and non-threatening appearance, house mice are very dangerous pests. To start, they will chew constantly on various materials throughout the home, including insulation and electrical wiring, and the latter can cause fire hazards. You then have to worry about the dozens of diseases that mice are capable of spreading, including the hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Tularemia and Salmonella.

How do I get rid of a house mouse infestation?

It might seem like it would be no big deal to set up a few traps or place some poison around the home in order to get rid of a mouse infestation, but DIY efforts often fail to remove the infestation completely. This leaves you at risk for reinfestation, and before you know it, the mice have reproduced to their original numbers. This is why it’s best to hire a pro for the job. A pro will have the tools and the expertise needed to make quick work of an infestation, no matter its size, and he will be able to detect if there are any secondary infestations in the home. For example, if mice are drawn to certain factors in the home, other pests may have the same reasons to enter the home as well. Contact us today if you need professional house mouse control services, or if you have any questions about this rodent.