Why are There Mice in My House?

House mice can be found all across America and often in our homes too. House mice often gain access to human structures during the colder months to seek shelter from the cold temperatures and find convenient food sources. Eagle Pest Services will share how to identify and practice proper exclusion to help keep house mice out of your home.

 

House Mouse Identification

The house mouse has short light brown or gray fur with a lighter under belly which is usually white or yellow. The house mouse also has hair on its ears and tail unlike some other rodents where their ears and tails are hairless. House mice are about 2 1/2 to 4 inches in body length not including their tail. Another identifying trait of house mice is their feces. House mice feces are round shaped with points at both ends. Often the feces are the main way many pest companies will use to identify the different species of rodents.

 

What Attracts Mice to Your Home?

Mice are attracted to your home because it has everything they need to survive; shelter, comfortable nesting materials, plentiful food and convenient water sources. House mice and many other mice species can fit through cracks the size of a pencil which makes it easy for mice to squeeze into homes and other structures. Often they find cracks in doorways or even climb in using vents in the attic or dryer vents. Once inside your home they will get inside your walls and often use attic insulation to make their nest. Mice also get into your stored food contaminating the contents.

 

What Diseases Do House Mice Carry?

House mice are known to harbor many different types of diseases such as Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Typhus and Salmonella AKA food poisoning. Another disease tranmitted by the bite of mites that live on house mice is Pox AKA Rickettsial which consists of lesion followed by fever, headache and rash. Additionally, mice cause damage to your home structure, plumbing, and electrical systems. Mice are both harmful and destructive which is why it is important to practice proper exclusion.

 

Rodent Exclusion & Prevention

Exclusion starts by preventing mice from entering into your home. However this can take some effort. The first step is sealing your home. Inspect windows and doors for gaps. You may need to replace window screens, weather stripping and use caulking glue to fill in any cracks around the windows and home. Next, you may want to consider installing a metal mesh screen over attic and dryer vents as well as over chimneys. After your have sealed your home to keep mice out, your next step is securing all of your food. Many people like to have snack and fruit bowls out on the counter. This is discouraged. Mice and other pests can smell food from very far away and will become aggressive to get into your home if it guarantees a free meal. Pantry goods should be sealed in air tight containers made of glass, metal, or thick plastic. It also helps to prevent a mice infestation by keeping your home clean and free of clutter. The outside should also be clean and free of clutter and debris.

 

House Mouse Control

Your best chance for proper mice control is to contact a professional pest control company. Eagle Pest Services will treat your home in all the optimum places to help control mice and other rodents. For all your pest control needs, contact Eagle Pest Services!