Mice are among the most common household pests homeowners in Texas may find themselves dealing with. Found almost everywhere in Texas, these unwelcome four-legged squatters are incredibly tough and adaptable, and that is what makes dealing with a mice infestation a challenge.
In today’s blog, we will give you insights on some important facts about mice, including some advice on how to handle their unwelcome presence in your home.
The Dangers of Mice Infestation
Mice run indoors in search of food, water, and a cozy place to stay. Unfortunately, they also bring with them a laundry list of diseases, including the Hantavirus, salmonella, and listeria. Although extremely rare, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) can cause potentially fatal infections and is transmitted when breathing air that is contaminated by mouse urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting materials.
In addition to the threat of HPS, mice can literally burn your house down. It might sound overly dramatic, but mice have been known to gnaw through electrical cords in your walls and attic, resulting in house fires. In fact, 25% of all house fires attributed to “unknown causes” in the U.S. are most likely started by rodents.
It should be pretty clear by now that mice don’t make good roommates.
The Tell-tale Signs of Mouse Infestation
Figuring out how bad you have it is hard but not impossible.
Mice are nocturnal, meaning that they are active at night. If you hear the sound of gnawing or squeaking or the scurry of little feet in the walls in the middle of the night, it very well may be a mouse looking for food or for materials to build its new home.
Mice are actually voracious eaters and seek out fruit, nuts, sugars, and grains for sustenance. They also will happily chew on wood (structure and furniture), drywall, paper, soft concrete, insulation, plastic pipes, gas lines, phone chargers, computer cords, and other malleable materials to assemble a nest.
So if you have noticed...
- Scampering noises in the ceiling, wall, or behind the oven
- Strange smells
- Small bite marks
- Holes
- Crumbs in food/materials
- The characteristic feces
...chances are, you have yourself a mouse infestation in your home and are in need of professional pest control in Austin, TX.
As a matter of fact, after seeing just one single mouse, you should know that there are probably many behind those walls, but you do not have to jump to conclusions until a thorough investigation is done. The quicker you start, the faster you can solve your mouse problem.
Rodent Control to Fight Mouse Infestation
At just around one month old, female mice can mate and carry young for an additional three weeks. They give birth to four to twelve babies. They can actually do this every three weeks, meaning that an uncontrolled mouse population can snowball!
From putting some sanitation measures in place to setting up elaborate mouse traps, there are many ways you can fight this active and efficient procreation in your home.
Understand that mice are tough and can survive in the tiniest of spaces in your home with limited amounts of food. This means that even the cleanest buildings cannot be completely “mouse-proof” if there is some food stored. Sure, good sanitation goes a long way in reducing the likelihood of a mouse infestation, but it will not completely get rid of the problem.
Although anyone, rural or urban, can struggle with mice, practicing prevention can reduce the chance of having an infestation. Preventative measures include putting mothballs around the couches and sealing up possible entry points, such as garage doors, windows, doors, and roof vents. Also, since mice are likely seeking food in your home, securing food containers and garbage cans, cleaning up crumbs, and practicing general kitchen sanitation can help. Even your eco-friendly compost pile or bird feeder can be a source of food and attraction to mice. Sealing up your compost and choosing husk-less bird seeds can reduce risk.
Why Do You Need Professional Rodent Control Services?
Mice are tiny and quick, but it is not just size and speed that gives mice an advantage when it comes to getting caught... they are also quite acrobatic. They can climb up the sides of furniture, jump up over two feet into the air, fit through tiny spaces, and “lose” their tails when approached by predators. These factors make mice very difficult to get rid of, even with traps.
If you think you have mice in your home, it is crucial to act immediately. An experienced pest control company in Dallas, Texas, can take care of your rodent problem as soon as possible.
If you would like to take a more proactive approach to pest control, you may also want to find out about ongoing home pest control services. After all, it can be easier (and more cost-effective) to prevent a rodent infestation than to deal with the damage they could potentially cause.
Professional Mice Control Services in Texas
Nobody wants to admit that they have a mouse infestation at home, but the fact is, a mouse infestation can happen to anyone, no matter how well-kept the house is.
If you live anywhere in Austin, Dallas, or North Houston, get in touch with Green Pest Guys to deal with the mice infestation in your home effectively and safely. Our experienced technicians will be able to find and/or identify the unwanted intruder, discover how they may be gaining access to your home, exclude future intruders by sealing potential entry points and catch/trap the current habitants. Our work is guaranteed, so you can rest assured that we will get the job done!
Give us a call so we can get started!