One of the most common and destructive pests, mice can slip through small openings and quickly become a health and safety concern. Discovering you have mice in your home can be an unnerving experience, but it’s important that you act fast. If the problem is ignored, it will worsen as the mice begin breeding and their numbers increase.
There are two factors which make mice one of the critters most effective at infesting homes:
- The gestation period of mice is only about 20 days
- Mice reach sexual maturity anywhere from 40 to 60 days
These two factors combine to make mice prolific at reproducing. They can have litters of pups early and often. Theoretically, just one female mouse could have over 150 babies a year! If you don’t take care of your mouse infestation as soon as possible, it can quickly get out of control.
Signs of a Mouse Infestation
The most obvious signs of a mice infestation include:
- Droppings and urine pools
- Gnawing marks on wood, food containers, electric wires, and more
- Odors originating from the attic or walls
- Scratching, squeaking, or thumping noises in the walls or ceiling
- Strange or unusual pet behavior
- Seeing mice
Professional Advice: How to Keep Mice Out
How to make your home less desirable for mice:
- Ensure all food containers are sealed
- Don’t leave out pet food throughout the day
- Keep trash cans closed inside and outside of your home
- Clean up spilt food and regularly sweep or mop your floor
- Regularly check your attic for signs of mice
Dangers of Mice in the House
Mice damage your home and spread diseases. As they reproduce, these risks multiply.
Mice diseases
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
- Leptospirosis
- Salmonellosis
Damage from mice
- Mice infestations subject home dwellers to scratching sounds as they burrow through walls and other structures.
- They have a high rate of reproduction, which means more mice and more damage (with an average of 2000 offspring per year)
- They leave their droppings and urine in the unreachable corners, leaving a foul smell
- They cause continuous alarm tripping when they chew on alarm wiring
- Mice infestation increases utility bills and potential fire outbreak from gnawed electronic appliances, insulation, and air duct pipes
- Gnawing of walls and other structures to create tunnels
4-Step Process for Mice Control
Step 1: Inspect – The first thing we must do to assess a critter problem is to inspect your home. We need to verify the type of pest, its location, and the damage it’s caused. At this point, we can offer a free estimate and set a plan of action for removal. To learn more about our inspection process, visit our webpage.
Step 2: Remove – We use various techniques to remove mice from your home. The method that we use will be determined in the inspection process. Implementation of the chosen method will happen at this step. Because our technicians are skilled and knowledgeable about mouse behavior patterns, rest assured that this process will be very efficient.
Step 3: Repair – Any damage we find in your home caused by mice in your attic, we will repair. Keep in mind that critters leave behind damage and excrement in almost every situation, so it’s imperative a professional take care of the clean-up and removal of contaminated items, such as insulation.
Step 4: Exclude – Once we remove and repair the pests and their damage, we put in place preventive measures to keep the mice from coming back and invading your home again.
The Critter Control® Difference
A homeowner may be able to handle a mouse or two, but an infestation is a different matter. These must be dealt with quickly to avoid further population growth and potential problems. Fortunately, Critter Control® of Sarasota technicians can bring their vast experience with mice infestations to your unique situation, so that they can quickly and effectively eliminate the problem.
At Critter Control® of Sarasota, our technicians are passionate about keeping your home safe and pest-free. With decades of experience and a strong understanding of animal behavior, we can get rid of the mice in your attic and keep them out for good.
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