Is Your Home a Habitat for a White Footed Mouse?

There are a number of pests that will invade homes come the fall season. One is the White Footed Mouse. These little rodents are often found invading homes during both spring and fall, just before extreme weather sets in. You may have already seen them roaming around your home. Before autumn, they will begin collecting food for winter much like squirrels. If you’ve seen a white footed mouse foraging around your home, there is a good chance they have made a nest nearby or inside your home. Eagle Pest Services will share how to identify and control white footed mice.

White Footed Mouse Identification

The white footed mouse is identified by appearance and behavior. They can be found throughout the state of Virginia. The white footed mouse can reach up to 2 ½ inches in length (4 inches including the tail). They have soft, light brown fur with a white under belly and legs. The white footed mouse also has a relatively large set of round ears and eyes for their size. The body build of the white footed mouse is also small and delicate.

Where are White Footed Mice Found?

The white footed mouse can be found throughout most of the eastern portion of the United States and are active year around. Outdoors, these little rodents like to stick to high or overgrown vegetation and will live in woodland areas, in trees, and in rocks. They will also occupy abandoned burrows from other small animals and are occasionally known to move into bird nests. Since the white footed mouse is omnivorous they can be seen feeding on fruit, nuts, seeds, snails and insects. Given the opportunity they will even feed on the meat of other animals or creatures. Come fall they will gather food and store it for winter months. The white footed mouse normally reproduces during the fall or spring season. If you have a small infestation during the fall season, expect a bigger one in winter.

White Footed Mouse Damage & Diseases

Like most rodents, the White-Footed Mouse can carry diseases and cause major damage to plumbing, electrical systems, and contaminate your food. Given the common problems associated with mice you will want to control and prevent an infestation.

White Footed Mice Prevention

Controlling mice, including the white footed mouse, you will want to prevent them from invading your home. As stated earlier, white footed mice like overgrown vegetation. Start by maintaining your lawns. Keep the grass cut down. Bushes and shrubs should be maintained. It helps to keep a twelve inch clearing at the bottom of low ground plants. Come fall keep leaves raked up and avoid any debris piles. The less clutter around the home also helps prevent pests. For those who like to maintain a firewood stack, make sure to store wood as far from the home as possible to prevent mice from nesting too close to your home. Inspect the outside and inside of the home and locate any areas small enough to let mice in. Mice can squeeze through some of the tightest holes. They can compress their body, so if cracks or holes are no bigger than a pencil, mice are coming in. Most pest control companies will suggest you use a silicone caulking glue. However, if you have rodents don't use silicone. Instead use concrete compounds to seal the holes. Mice can chew through the silicone. Cover attic and dryer vents with a tight mesh metal screen to allow air flow but keep mice out.

Rodent Control

For better control of rodents, contact Eagle Pest Services. We can help control mice with the aid of traps, baits and poisons, if necessary. For all of your pest control needs, contact Eagle Pest Services today!