Mice can enter our homes at any time of the year. However, Fall is the most common time homeowners encounter mice indoors. As the temperatures begin to cool, mice too, begin to look for warmer areas to spend the winter months.
They can become a real problem, building nests, contaminating food, causing damage and spreading a variety of diseases.
The majority of our calls to resolve mice infestations are AFTER homeowners have tried DIY fixes. Although I am not opposed to DIY projects, the issue with battling a mouse infestation is not completely understanding their biology and behavior.
Additionally, many of the products sold over the counter simply do not work.
Although the most obvious sign of an infestation is seeing either a live mouse or a dead mouse, there are other signs homeowners should be aware of.
Seeing holes in bags of food, noticing pet food moved into a secluded location (under appliances, in pantry’s etc.) seeing insulation moved, observing mouse droppings, scratching noises in ceilings or coming from behind walls or even the smell of a dead mouse.
Mice prefer to feed on grains, plants and especially bird seed. Mice will live in a protected environment with ample food and water for up to three years.
A single female mouse can have up to 10 litter’s per year, with 4-6 pups per litter. Each female pup can reproduce in six weeks.
I mentioned earlier, most homeowners will attempt to address infestations themselves. More often than not, they will use snap traps. Usually, the traps are not placed in the proper locations, and if they do catch a mouse, there will likely be bait shyness after the first mouse is trapped.
Many clients ask if we can permanently rid their home of mice. This is a tricky question. The honest answer is no. Contrary to what many pest control companies claim, we cannot prevent future mouse infestations.
Simply put, you cannot mouse proof a home. Mice can crawl up brick into holes as small as 1/4 of an inch. They can access our homes via pipes leading to the outside, they can enter garages beneath worn weather stripping. And once inside the garage, they can and will enter your home via the pedestrian door from the garage to the living quarters.
Our approach is straight forward and honest: Our goal is to reduce the opportunity for future infestatons…
We employ several different and effective methods to control your infestation. We have at our disposal baits, live traps and specialized snap traps. Depending on your particular situations, we will use the most ideal approach to resolve your problem.
Not all mouse treatments are the same. Oftentimes, pets are in the home and small children are present. Safeguarding these issues is paramount to our treatment processes.
If you have or suspect you have a mouse infestation, please feel free to give us a call at (586) 731-2120 for a no cost estimate.
