Mice are the most prevalent urban pest. They participate in the direct and indirect transmission of more than 30 diseases, like Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis ( LCMV), among others, all of which can put your entire household at risk.
Certain things in your home increase your chance of mice infestation, and until such things are taken out of reach of mice, it could be difficult to overcome mice infestation.
What Attracts Mice to Your Home
Mice have basic needs like you which might make your home attractive to them. Some of which are:
- Shelter: Mice invasion is usually high during the winter because mice seek protection from cold and warmth. Their tiny size makes it easy for them to fit through spaces as small as a quarter of an inch.
- Food: Food is important for mammals, which means rats are willing to make their homes in places that offer a constant supply of food and water.
- Home for their offsprings: Mice are good parents, but they require a safe place to rear their babies. They make nesting material for their children. The nesting materials are usually made out of soft materials like paper and cotton.
Signs of Mice Infestations
While mice could be evasive and tend to keep out of sight, there will always be a telltale sign that they’ve been on your property.
Droppings
Mice usually produce between 40 to 100 droppings per day. The droppings are around 6.2mm in size, oblong little balls. It can be found where the mice have been, in the corridor, the kitchen, and room corners.
Gnawing
Gnaw signs are the most obvious sign of infestation after droppings. Mice gnaw at wooden structures, wires, food-containing jars, and cabinet doors for two reasons. to sharpen their teeth and access the food inside the jars or cabinets.
Nest
Items like shredded paper, soft fabric, and any other sift item in a shredded form are used by mice for nests. If you notice some of these in your home, you could have a mice infestation on your hands.
Pets’ Behavior
Unusual behavior from your pet might be a way to call your attention to the invasion. Pets tend to be extremely alert if there are mice in your home. You may notice your dogs barking or your cats pawing at spaces beneath refrigerators and other crevices.
Tips to Get Rid of Mice Infestation
1. Remove All Food Source
Use glass, metal containers, and hard plastics to store raw food items like grains. They will deny mice access to the content. Keep all foods away, and don’t leave pet food out for long. Also, sweep food crumbs; dispose of unfinished food properly.
2. Seal all potential entry points
Mice often chew their way through your home structure or enter through the smallest opening. It is important to seal all entry points. Door and window panes can be sealed with silicone caulk, and vent openings and duct tape holes should be blocked using a wire sponge, also called steel wool, to keep the airflow unrestricted.
3. Get a Cat
Cats are natural predators of rats, and rats are wired to fear them, so a sure way to overcome mice infestation is to have a cat on your property. However, a cat box will do the magic if your residence does not allow pets. The smell of a cat’s urine is enough to discourage mice from invading your property.
4. Use Natural Repellent
Some plants serve as natural repellents for mice; such plants have properties that irritate the mice, and examples of such plants are peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper and cloves, and pepper.
Dealing with mice infestation could be a lot to handle. However, the aforementioned methods could help keep them at bay. If you still have trouble getting rid of them, you might need the help of a professional exterminator, click for more info.
