BLOG

How To Identify And Control House Mice

When it comes to commensal rodents, you are the most likely to have your home infested by house mice. These mice hail from Central Asia, but they can be found all over the world and throughout most of the United States. Usually, we look at mice as less harmful than rats, and while that is true to some extent, they can pose significant risks to both our health and our property.

Identifying the house mouse

So how do you know that the rodent you’ve seen on your property is a house mouse? House mice usually have gray furs with light colored underbellies, but the fur can vary from dark gray to light brown. They are also much shorter and smaller than rats, reaching lengths of up to 4 to 8 inches.

Signs of a mouse infestation

Mice will leave several signs indicating that they are present in the home. These signs include:

• Gnaw marks on various surfaces, which can appear smooth or rough.
• Droppings throughout the house. New droppings are soft and moist while older droppings start to dry out and become hard. Mouse droppings have rod-like shapes with pointed ends.
• Mice will also leave tracks and rub marks, due to their oily fur, as they travel through the home.
• Burrows are another sign of an infestation. Mice will gather nesting materials from around the home, and create nests made out of insulation, paper, and other light materials.
• There will be a distinct odor in a home that is infested by rats, stemming from their urine.
• Mice will damage various goods in the home, including cereal packages, furniture, and others.
• When an infestation is big enough, you will see the mice themselves scurrying out in the open.

Mouse control

Some mouse infestations can be controlled by the homeowner, if the infestation is caught early on. Traps and poisons will be quite effective at this stage, although poisons can lead to dead mice in the walls or in other hard to reach areas. As an infestation grows, more and more sophisticated methods are required to get rid of the mice. This is where we come in. We can help you get rid of large mice infestations that cannot be handled DIY. Contact us today if you have any questions about mouse control, or if you would like to set up a mouse control appointment.