As a mom, I am typically starting to think about Spring cleaning right about now. I am always hoping I do not find evidence of mice in my garage, as I am going through storage searching for my children’s sports gear. One of the things that really grosses me out is mouse droppings. One mouse can produce upwards of 40 droppings in a day. If you are like me you have some questions.
Why my home?
Mice typically will come into a home looking for food and shelter. While most people think that mice are only a concern in the winter, rodents are active throughout the year. Grass seed, Bird seed, and pet food are often stored in garages. Storing these food sources in sealed containers is a great start. Mice like to stay within 10-20 feet of a food and water source. Condensation from an HVAC line or refrigeration system can provide enough water for mice to sustain life but we are not going to get rid of air conditioning, so eliminating access to food is essential. Mice can travel through areas as small as a dime. Storing food in sealed containers is going to be the easiest, low-cost deterrent you can do to help your uninvited guest to find another place to live.
What about Disease & Damage?
Mice and rats are associated with over 30 diseases, including Salmonella. Fleas and ticks are vectors, able to spread disease, and can hitchhike on rodents. Mice, like all rodents, spend part of their day gnawing. This means everything from electrical wiring to stored paper are susceptible to damage. Food loss and contamination is often reported. Mice have damaged ketchup packets, macaroni boxes, bags of flour, and cereals to name a few. The best way to prevent an infestation is by sealing up available food sources in sealed containers, such as Tupperware. The original container or bag the food is purchased may not be sufficient or preventing mice from becoming interested and damaging the food product. Once mice are enter an area, such as your garage or pantry, they leave behind pheromones.
Why are we talking about Pheromones?
Rodents use pheromones to communicate with each other. This is very similar to a dog at a fire hydrant. Other dogs know that the first dog has been there and are encouraged to participate. Once mice have entered your home, there are pheromones present in your home. It takes time for the pheromone strength and presence to wain away. The pheromone eventually go away but that is mainly dependent on the mouse population and the length of time the infestation occurred.
Can I seal up my house from mice?
Exclusion is sealing areas so that a pest cannot enter. Exclusion will serve you better as a preventative measure before an infestation occurs. This is because rodents will gnaw at an area that has been sealed but has their pheromone present. This is very frustrating for homeowners. Mice teeth typically score about 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Iron has been known to be as low as 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Exclusion work should be done by a professional to avoid headaches and financial loss. Sealing up mice from the inside of your home is generally ineffective. Exterior exclusion work is the most effective. Enclosed or sealed crawlspaces do not prevent mouse infestations as seen in the picture below. Mice have chewed around the pipe and the “grease” mark from traveling in and out of the area can be seen.
How many mice are we talking about?
Mice are very prolific breeders. Depending on the research you find, they have been known to start breeding after 6 weeks of age. They usually are multiple pairs of pups. This means that it is not uncommon to have a litter of 4, 6, or even 8. Another litter of pups can occur every three weeks. Depending on the species, this can happen up to ten times a year. Mice also have a special ability called superfetation. This means that a mouse can get pregnant a second time while already pregnant. It is easy to see how a mouse population can get out of hand quickly.
How do I get rid of the mice?
A lot of people will spend money on do-it-yourself pest control. There is a science behind solving mouse problems and that takes time to research the right solutions. If you are ready to get family focused help, we at Invicta Environmental Pest Defense are here to help. We have a options to customize mouse control for your home. Our most popular options involve tracking mouse activity through bait and a blacklight. This allows our technicians understand where the mouse are traveling to and from, which indicates nesting areas. Our newest feature is our electronic monitoring system. We place stations throughout your home that timestamp when and how much activity is occurring. With the help of Bluetooth technology, the technician gets a report of all activity since the last service of your home, typically just moments after pulling up in your driveway! This helps us understand susceptible areas of your home, concentrate our services, and put you at easy knowing the Mom-Owned, Family Focused pest control company is using the newest technology and best expertise to solve your mouse problem. We would love to help you get back to making your own family focused moments. Give us a call at 984-300-0117 or book your service at invictapest.com.