Mice like rats can carry disease and can cause a significant risk to the health of humans in the home. They can also cause considerable damage to wiring, walls and furniture if allowed to breed in the household. It is advised to control a mouse problem immediately.
Mice like rats are capable of reproducing at a very young age. A mouse can have up to eight liters a year with between eight to twelve offspring every six weeks. This can give rise to a rapid increase in population size and can lead to heavy infestation very quickly. Mice are nocturnal, meaning they predominantly operate at night, and have to chew on hard substances, such as timber, electrical cables, plumbing pipes etc. to prevent their teeth from over growing. This can cause untold damage and risk to any home.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE MICE?
There are a few ways you may identify the presence of Mice. Mice make their way around attics, ceilings or walls and can create quite loud noises, usually very noticeable at night. You may also see Mouse droppings which resemble grains of rice in certain locations such as behind presses.
SIGNS OF MICE IN YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
- Scratching noises: Mice making their way around attics, ceilings or walls can create quite loud noises, usually very noticeable at night.
- Odor: Mice create a distinctive stale smell, usually behind kitchen sinks, cupboards or hot-presses.
- Mouse droppings: Mouse droppings are like grains of rice. A mouse on average can drop around forty droppings per day.
- Nests: Nests are often found behind fridges, in boiler houses, in attics spaces and between floor boards, built with a variety of material found around the house.
HOW CAN I PREVENT MICE?
Keeping places clean and reducing clutter will give less opportunity for nests to develop. An unclean home is a perfect environment for mice. It is also really important to store all food products away in sealed containers. Regular cleaning in hard to reach areas such as behind fridges or the back of cupboards is advised to reduce risk.
It would be wise to do a survey of any gaps on the outside of your house. Remember, mice can squeeze through the smallest gaps so be sure to seal gaps with bristle strips, caulking or steel wool. Mice will gnaw through fillers, expanding foam, wood or plastic.
PREVENTION TIPS
- Clean home: Reducing clutter will give less opportunity for nests to develop. An unclean home is a perfect environment for mice.
- Food sources: Store all food products away in sealed containers. Regular cleaning in hard to reach areas such as behind fridges or the back of cupboards is advised to reduce risk.
- Proofing: Mice can squeeze through the smallest of gaps, so take time to conduct your own personal survey of any gaps in external walls, openings around outside piping leading in to the house and gaps under doors. Seal these gaps up with bristle strips, caulking or steel wool. Mice will gnaw through fillers, expanding foam, wood or plastic.
TIME FOR ACTION
For expert advice on rat control & prevention, or to discuss putting a pest control management system in place for your business, please do not hesitate to contact us.
