MICE

Homes can have all sorts of nooks and crannies insects and rodents can travel through. One of worst infestations to really watch out for are mice, the most common in the United States is the House Mouse but in rural areas Deer and White Footed mice are more frequent. Whatever the type of mouse infesting your home, once they find a way inside it's very difficult to rid yourself of them. Extermination is the best method of removal if you don't want to continue to be bothered by these tiny furry creatures.

Mice enter a home through cracks in walls, foundations, or floors. A mouse's body is made up of very delicate cartilage which allows them to fit through impossibly small spaces. This allows them to also enter through small gaps around utility lines and drainage pipes. This is why any opening 1/4" or larger should be sealed up properly to prevent any mouse from entering or re-entering your home.

Mice are more commonly found in older homes and apartment buildings where improperly sealed openings allow them access inside the structure. The biggest tip to listen for signs of mice are low scratching sounds behind your walls or near human food sources. Sometimes if you are fast enough, you can grab a flashlight and actually see the mouse hiding in a corner nearby the source of the sound. The next indicator you have a mouse problem are mouse droppings. They're small but mice almost always follow the same route. Check along your kitchen counter tops and near your garbage where food particles may be present or along areas where water might have clustered into a small puddle. Make sure there are no open containers on the floor that mice can access and potentially contaminate. Boxes, paper, and plastic are just some of the materials you don't want to leave on your floor. Although relatively harmless mice do carry an array of diseases and you certainly don't want them in your food supply. Fecal matter, urine, and saliva from mice can carry salmonella (food poisoning) and hantavirus (can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome which can be fatal).

Trapping mice yourself is something you can try but often times fails. Mice vary in intelligence as well as skill when it comes to traps. Some are easily caught while others run off with the bait without setting off the trap. They are also prolific breeders and when you see signs of one, there are usually several more. If not dealt with swiftly you could have an entire colony of a few hundred living within your home in as little as a couple of months.

Loud noises do scare mice but if it's a repeatedly loud sound they will become accustomed to it and can live in very loud settings. Be sure to contact Elkhart Exterminators for an accurate removal. Only a professional can track where the mice are entering your home and will know the best method of ridding you of your pest infestation.