House Mice Facts

Mice are small rodents, typically gray or brown with a pointy snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail and a high breeding rate. The common house mouse is the most well known species to infest homes looking for food and shelter. The house mouse is considered one of the most troublesome pests in the United States as they can thrive in a variety of conditions. Adult mice weigh about a ½ ounce and are 5 ½ to 7 ½ inches long, including a 3 to 4 inch tail. Mice are nocturnal and have poor eyesight. However, they have a keen sense of hearing and rely especially on their sense of smell to locate food and avoid predators. They are excellent climbers and build burrows for homes and to reproduce. A female mouse can give birth when they are only two months old, and they are able to have up to a dozen babies every three weeks. This means she could have as many as 150 offspring in a single year! Signs to look for if you suspect an infestation are droppings, fresh gnawing and tracks indicate areas where mice are active. They also have a characteristic musky odor and you will occasionally see them during the daytime.

How to Prevent and Control Mice in Your Home & Outdoors

Mice enter homes through cracks and holes found in walls, floors, and foundations. Mice are capable or fitting through holes much smaller than they appear likely to! Gaps in doors and windows as well as drainage pipes that aren’t properly sealed are some of the easy entryways into your home. Mice Prevention involves sanitation, mouse proof construction and population reduction. Anywhere food is stored is open to mice. Food should be put away or sealed tightly as poor sanitation attracts them. Traps are an effective control method. Snap traps, also known as spring loaded-bar traps can be placed along pathways rodents travel and are baited with food. When the spring mechanism is triggered, a metal bar snaps and kills the mouse. This method requires no hazardous poisons. Poison baits are effective and usually take affect over a number of days. Glue traps cause the mice to get stuck preventing them from moving. They die from hypothermia since they can’t move and maintain their body temperature.

Mice Health Risks to Humans

Mice can at times be vermin as they damage and eat crops, cause structural damage and spread diseases through their parasites and feces. They contaminate human food-preparation surfaces with their feces, which can contain bacteria. Mice have been known to spread nasty diseases like Salmonella and Listeria that cause food poisoning. They nibble at electric cables, water and gas pipes, packaging, and woodwork and cause electrical fires and floods.

Mice Pest Inspections, Prevention, Control & Removal Services in Northern Virginia, Stafford, Warrenton, Manassas, Culpeper, Chantilly, Leesburg VA and Gaithersburg Maryland

Traps are considered very effective in the capture and extermination of individual rodents. However, mouse populations grow rapidly and will most often require more extreme pest control measures. If you see a mouse scurry across your floor it is safe to assume there are more. Contact Eagle Pest Services as soon as possible before the infestation gets out of hand!