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House mouse - Field mice

Mus musculus or Mus domesticus

Most common small rodent found within structures, particularly in fall and winter.

Description:

Mice and rats are referred to as Rodents (from the Latin rodere meaning ‘to gnaw need’) their need to gnaw constantly is necessary to control the size of their incisor (front) teeth. Mice can chew through anything softer than their teeth. Mice teeth can grow up to 5 inches a year.  They often turn their destructive instincts to pipe work, structural building materials, electrical cables, thus they are the number cause of structural fires. Mice are prolific breeders, producing six to ten litters continuously throughout the year.  

Mice are nocturnal creatures and are rarely seen by the homeowner. When only a few mice are present in the home you might notice some droppings or hear them at night. After the mice start multiplying, they begin to get noticed running across floor areas late at night. If you see house mice in the daytime, it is an indication of a large mouse infestation.

The greatest economic loss from mice is not due to how much they eat, but what must be thrown out because of damage or contamination. Food, clothing, furniture, books and many other household items are contaminated by their droppings and urine, or damaged by their gnawing. House mice gnaw through electrical wiring causing fires and failure of freezers, clothes dryers and other appliances. In homes, besides fire, the real damage or harm by mice is contamination. Rodents are also the vectors of human disease, they are incontinent and consequently foul wherever they travel, their droppings and fur will contaminate food preparation surfaces and foodstuffs. Mice also spread diseases such as salmonellosi, rickettsialpox and lymphocytic choriomenigitis and exposure to mice feces can cause asthma in humans.  

Are there Mice in the House?

The most obvious indicators of their presence are droppings (1/8 to 1/4 inch long, dark and pointed at both ends), sounds of them running, gnawing or squeaking, or damage to stored food or materials for nesting. Don't be surprised if your pets paw at walls and cabinets where mice are hiding. Cats will stare at walls for extended periods when they hear rodents moving within. You may find mouse droppings in various areas of your kitchen cabinets or under the counter. Look for dried urine in pots and pans. Watch for mice droppings in storage areas like garages and basements, especially along the wall edges in the corners. 

You might not see the mice, but you can probably hear them after dark, as mice are often more active at night. Nests are usually made of materials like bits of cloth or shredded paper.

You can check for mouse tracks by dusting suspected areas with a light coating of unscented talcum powder or mason's chalk dust. Wait a day and then shine a flashlight across the area. If you notice small tracks in the powder, then you'll know that mice have been there. 

How to Get Rid of Mice – Solution

We send out a Commercial Pest Control licensed technician to determine entry points. If the entry point is found we will seal it with a material mice can’t chew through. Field mice will come and go through exterior openings, but house mice tend to stay inside most of the time. Note: Mouse traps are not the best way of getting rid of house mice. They are best used for mouse control, not mice elimination. They tend to catch just some of the careless juvenile mice, not the adult mice. So, using mice traps for getting rid of a mice problem is an ongoing measure requiring constant removal of dead mice. Since our customers want us to rid their home of all the mice as quickly as possible, using mouse traps is not an option. Getting rid of house mice is best accomplished with the correct rodent baits. We have different baits for various parts of your home. The bait must be attractive enough for the mice to eat even if they already have a food source stored inside your walls, or above your ceilings. Note: This stored food in your walls and ceilings leads to pantry pest infestations (such as, Indian meal moths and various types of grain beetles)  that can linger for up to 8 years after the mice are gone.  The best way to get rid of house mice is to use the proper mouse bait for each type of location in your home. i.e. The right bait for eliminating mice in the attic, will be useless in a damp garage location ( it would quickly spoil and the mice won’t eat it ).  We have the proper baits for each location type, so the bait will be quickly eaten and last in each type of environment for an extended period of time. 

Facts about Mice

*   After 2 months of age, house mice produce 6 - 10 litters of 5 -10 pups per year. 

*   Like all rodents, mouse teeth  never stop growing, they can grow up to 5 inches a year.

*   Mice can jump down 12 feet without injury; they also have a 13-inch vertical jump. 

*  Mice chew through anything softer than their teeth, including electrical wiring a fire hazard.

*   Mice can transmit salmonellosis  when food is contaminated with infected mouse feces.

*   Mice constantly leave droppings and urine in the areas they frequent.

*   When they are full-grown they weigh between 1/2 and 1 ounce.

*   Colonies of mice have been found thriving in the supplies used on polar expeditions.

*   Mouse-tails have scales that help with climbing.

*   Their whiskers can sense smooth and rough surfaces, temperature changes and breezes.

*   Mice squeak at very high frequencies, often above the range of human hearing.

*  The average mouse has a life expectancy of under 18 months.

*   Mice may make 20 to 30 visits to different food sites each night.

*   Colonies of mice have been found thriving in the supplies used on polar expeditions.

*    Mice have tails as long as their bodies

*    Mice see best in dim light. Their eyesight is weak, but their other senses are acute.

*   Mice can scale rough vertical surfaces and walk along thin ropes and wires.

*   Fresh mouse droppings are dark, 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length and pointed at both ends.

*   Mice prefer to travel adjacent to walls and other edges.

*   They forage only short distances from their nest, usually not more than 10 to 25 feet.

*   Mice explore their territory daily, showing no aversion to new objects (neophobia).

*   Each year in the US alone, rodents cause more than one billion dollars in damage.

 *   What do mice eat? Mice prefer grains, seeds and insects as food sources but will consume almost any food

Mice Control Tips:

* Place dog food, birdseed and human food inside rodent-proof containers
* Keep shrubs, vines and tree limbs trimmed away from structure
* All gaps should be less than 1/4 inch to prevent entry
* Door thresholds and frames fitted with gaskets or brush shields
* Utility openings sealed with sealant or pipe collars (escutcheon plates)
* Do not stack lumber, firewood, bricks, pipes or other debris next to foundation
* Vents (attic, crawl and dryer) covered with mesh screen (< 1/4-inch)
* Storage areas organized and clutter-free with access to perimeter walls
* Garbage removed daily and stored outside in closed containers
* Food spills and soiled dishes should be cleaned promptly 

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