Everyone has at least one special talent. Some people can wiggle their ears; others know how to juggle flaming chainsaws. Everyone is unique in the odd and amazing things they can do. Animals are the same way. An ant can lift over 900 times its body weight. An owl can twist it’s head over 270 degrees. An African lungfish can survive over a year out of water. Today, we will be focusing on one creature that has many talents, most of which help them to invade properties. We are talking about mice. To help you understand how these furry pests get into homes, here are a few things you should know.
Mice Are Great At Invading
Mice are practically built to invade and live inside homes. Their already-small bodies can squeeze through holes the size of a nickel, their agile legs make it easy for them to climb and crawl through wall and ceiling voids, and their sharp teeth give them a way to make entry and exit holes wherever they need them. All mice need to invade your home is an entry point. Most commonly, mice will invade through damage to the exterior of a structure. This could be anything from a hole through foundational concrete to an unsealed utility pipe that channels water in or out of a home. In some cases, mice will climb up home and look for entry points higher up near roof lines and chimneys.
Prevention Tips For Mice
A mouse only needs a hole the size of a nickel to squeeze its way into a home, and a regular source of food and water to decide to stick around. To reduce your home’s chances of a mouse infestation, here are a few helpful prevention tips for you to use:
- Equip exterior doors with tight-fitting door sweeps.
- Use a caulking gun and some steel or copper wool to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks around conduits, utility piping, and throughout your home’s foundation.
- Keep your yard free of clutter and debris. This includes storing woodpiles and lumber at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
- Organize storage areas, and make sure as many things as possible are stored in heavy plastic totes.
- Make sure all of your trash cans have tight-fitting rodent-proof lids.
- Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
- Store leftover food inside pest-proof containers.
- Address moisture issues in and around your home.
The Best Way To Eliminate Mice
How you approach a mouse infestation inside your home all depends on how many mice there are. For smaller infestations of one or two mice, traps might work. We recommend using snapping traps baited with peanut butter, placed in areas you think mice are moving around inside your home. If you do not find success with this method after a couple of weeks, it is fair to assume that you misjudged the size of your infestation.
If your home has three mice or more, your best option is to get a professional pest control provider involved. At Rescue 1 Pest & Termite Control, we understand mice and have the advanced tools and training needed to handle, eliminate and exclude these pests from your New Haven County home. Don’t risk your health and safety, trying to deal with annoying, dangerous, and destructive mice. Let the experts at Rescue find your answer to rodent problems.
Give us a call or reach out to one of our team members through our website today to learn more about our rodent control, and schedule an appointment for your New Haven County home. Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.