Mice may not seem like harmful creatures. However, these critters can destroy a home in a matter of days. Walls, insulation, and your bed linens are all subject to becoming a nest.
If you see one mouse, there may be others. Not only will they destroy your house, but they also trigger allergies, asthma, and carry diseases.
Fortunately, there is Phenom Pest Protection to help you keep your Columbia, Maryland home safe and rodent-free.
Signs of Mice in Homes
Mice are not subtle creatures — they leave tons of evidence in their wake. If you notice bite marks in cardboard, hear scuttling in your walls, or your animals begin acting strange, you may have mice on your hands.
Other signs of mice in your home are:
- Holes in your yard and soil
- Small, brown, cylindrical droppings
- Gnawed electrical wires
Pantries are wonderful food sources for mice, so keep a close eye on them. Also, check electrical wiring for any signs of chewing.
Problems Linked with Mice
A mouse infestation causes countless problems, posing health risks and high repair costs.
Even if you find dead mice, it presents a problem — dead mice release awful odors. The most common issue with a mice infestation is damage to furniture, wooden surfaces, or structures.
Food contamination is another issue. A house mouse may not eat everything in your pantry, but if they scurry across a package or food you leave out, bacteria on their feet gets left behind.
Diseases such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, salmonellosis, and leptospirosis are associated with rodents. They might also bring in other nasty critters, like fleas, mites, lice, and ticks.
How to Get Rid of Mice
Mice breed extraordinarily rapidly. Removing them from your home as quickly as possible is the only way to keep an infestation at bay. If they have multiplied and the infestation is significant, call a professional.
Store-bought snap traps and baits may be effective if you have one or two mice, but anything further than that calls for greater measures. The team at Phenom Pest Protection is your best choice for rodent removal because:
- Pest control plans are entirely customizable to suit your budget and needs
- Consultations are available at no cost
- Phenom offers a pest control guarantee
It may be tempting to use poison to get rid of mice, but most experts advise against it. Doing so may cause injury to your children or pets. If you want to set traps in your home, it is best to use live traps.
Mice Prevention Guide
Keep your home safe and healthy with the following tips.
Identify and Eliminate Food and Water Sources
Mice cannot survive if they do not have food and water. Eliminating sources of sustenance is a surefire way to keep them out. Be sure to:
- Fix leaking pipes
- Keep food in air-tight containers
- Cover trash
- Clean surfaces after meals
- Seal pet food containers
Search for and Get Rid of Hiding Spots
Mice are burrowers, so trimming shrubbery may prevent them from turning your yard into a nesting place.
Clean out your garage or any outdoor spaces to keep nesting materials at a minimum. Reducing clutter eliminates hiding spots for mice.
Mice-Proof Your Home
Fill any cracks, holes, or entry points with steel wool to prevent pests from entering.
Other options are door sweeps and weather strips to prevent mice from sneaking in under doorways.
Natural Methods
There are a surprising amount of natural remedies for mouse prevention. The most effective is to use smells mice hate, which include peppermint and clove oils.
All you need to do is soak cotton balls in either essential oil and place them in locations mice may enter your home.
The experts at Phenom are ready to tackle your rodent problem year-round. Contact us today to get started!
