HOW TO GET RID OF MICE
Contact us for professional Mouse removal, control, and clean-up services. We also offer coaching services and products for a fee. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, check out the suggested techniques below.
Why do we want to keep Mice Around?Mice are an important link in the food chain, feeding animals like snakes, owls, hawks, foxes, and many other predatory birds and animals. But to say all mice are good for is food would be disrespectful to the species since they have also been very important in making medical history. For centuries mice and their rodent counterparts have been irreplaceable in the role of medical advancements. Almost every medical technique, treatment, and drug have been discovered and perfected with the help of mice and other animals.
Why do we get rid of Mice?
The major reason that mouse control, removal, and prevention are so important is because of the diseases that mice have the potential to carry. Mice can carry what is known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, 36% of these cases result in death. They can also be carriers of Salmonella, Murine Typhus, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, and the infamous Bubonic Plague that killed a total of 25 million people during the mid-fourteenth century. The thought of these illnesses might have just been a passing thought if it weren't for the fact that mice populate rapidly. One female mouse, in theory, could produce 140 offspring in a single year. Besides just physical illnesses, mice are also the trigger behind major anxiety attacks in those that suffer with musophobia (the fear of mice).
Dead MiceMice live, on average, about two years. If you take into account how many mice are born every year and figure that at least that many are dying each year, that's a ton of mice. Dead mice can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to decompose making their clean up and removal a very high priority. When mice die, handling the corpse can lead to the spread of any diseases that they carried while alive. Likewise, disease can be spread by fleas, ticks, or even animals that came in contact with the mouse. It is important that gloves, and possibly respirators, are worn when cleaning up dead mice. Any corpses that are collected should be placed in a plastic bag and taken to a burn plant immediately to be incinerated.
Dead Mice removal on City, County, or State Property
If there is a mouse problem in your home, office, or other structure that is being caused by an infestation from city, county, or state property, you may be able to refer us to the city, county, or state so that they can hire us to remove the problem. We do not remove dead mice off of city, county, or state properties unless contacted by the respective authorities to do so.
- Any contact with mouse urine, feces, and/or corpse could result in the spread of disease
- Mice often move in groups meaning that if you spot one mouse, it's most likely that there are more
- Mice reproduce quickly, within 20 days what once was a group of 10 could quadruple in size
KILL OR KEEP ALIVE?
Since mice are able to reproduce so quickly, the only way to get rid of them completely, is to successfully kill ALL of the mice infesting an area. Mice can be found virtually everywhere and any single mouse could hypothetically carry a potentially deadly disease. Kill traps, snap traps, poisons, and glue boards are all methods of trapping and killing mice.
- Why We Want to Keep Mice Out
- When to Get Rid of Mice
- Getting Rid of Mice
- Places to Check for Mouse Entrances
- Blocking Mice Entrances
- How to Recognize Mouse Activity
- How to Identify mouse Droppings
- Information about Mouse Droppings
- Cleaning up Mouse Feces
As mentioned before, mice can be hosts to several serious, and even deadly diseases. They can spread these illnesses to humans through their urine, feces, saliva, scratches, and bites. They will also build nests in homes in drawers, attics, walls, underneath couch cushions, and various other areas where they store food that can contain fleas, ticks, and mites that can also infect anyone that come in contact with them. Mice infestations can also decrease the value of homes, offices, and other structures by 5-10% or more. Their rapidly growing population means that a small mouse problem can grow quickly into an infestation within a matter of months.
As soon as you see, hear, or recognize a mouse/mouse problem, it is vital that you start taking precautionary measures. A small mice colony can more than double in the space of 20 days. This mouse infestation can cause a 5-10% decrease in property value.
There are several preventative measures that you can take for mice, but the problem is really getting rid of them once they've made a home in your home. One of the most common prevention and extermination solutions is a cat, not only do they catch and kill mice but mice also hate the smell of cats making it more likely that they will leave peacefully. Of course the other, less permanent solutions include poisons, bait traps, glue traps, mass traps, and ultrasonic devices (be sure to check reviews before purchasing one of course). Be sure that whatever you use is kosher with local laws before using them in your home. It is important, however, to take into account the threats that poisons can cause. If a pet or child comes in contact with and ingests a poison they can become ill. Mice that are poisoned also pose the risk of dying inside of the home; also, if they die outside, they can cause second hand poisoning to any predators that eat the dead mouse.
It is true that a mouse only needs a hole about the size of a dime to get into your home. Not only that, but mice can also climb, meaning that an entrance could be on the roof line or near the foundation. Either way, blocking these holes is the most important step in mice prevention and extermination. If you have ever had problems with rats, squirrels, raccoons, woodpeckers, or another animal getting into your home, it is smart to recheck those areas where they were able to gain access and possibly reseal it. After that, the search is really high and low, in other words, mice can climb up to a roof by way of stucco, wood siding, brick, and even trees. Mice can use open doors, windows, pet doors, the cracks underneath doors, eaves, gutter lines, the area around piping, between siding, and almost anywhere else structural material meets more structural material to gain access to a structure. Mice can also use chimneys, vents, and even drain pipes in sinks and tubs to get into a home.
Blocking a mouse hole is the most important step in prevention and removal. Any holes that have been identified as a mouse hole or are large enough to be a mouse hole should be sealed with caulking, metal, or cement. These holes can be as small as a dime or larger making them hard to identify. It is not recommended that holes be sealed with wood since mice can easily chew through such a soft material.
Look in corners, cabinets, and behind stoves, ovens, and dishwashers for droppings. You can also recognize areas that have been chewed and scratched by mice, this includes wood cabinets, doors, food bags and boxes, and any holes that have been made by an animal. You may also be able to recognize the sound of tiny feet running through walls, vents, and ceilings. If someone in your home says that they've seen a mouse, believe them and start taking the proper measures. Oftentimes, mice infestations spiral out of control because of the denial that there's a problem at all.
Mouse droppings are hard to the touch and are often described as black rice, which makes sense considering the shape, size, and coloring is nearly the same as a grain of black rice. The problem is that mice droppings can often be confused with rat and bat droppings and vice versa. Rat droppings are usually slightly larger and turn lighter as they get older; bat guano will crumble when touched and will often be found in large groupings and have a slight sheen to it from the insect wings that they ingest.
Mouse droppings can contain dangerous diseases such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, and several others. These diseases can be mild or deadly depending on the severity of the case, though they are more likely to be severe in young children.
If the droppings are found in a small, enclosed areas gloves, respiratory masks, and possibly full body suits should be worn to prevent the inhalation and spread of disease. Any droppings should be sprayed with a bleach and water mix then removed in a plastic bag and take it to a burn plant to be incinerated. Any areas near the droppings, or bedding and clothing that may have come in contact with them, should be cleaned and disinfected.
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- How to Get Rid of Mice in the Attic
It's not easy to see or find evidence of mice in an attic, they create holes and tunnels through insulation and in walls making them hard to locate. They get into attics by climbing up trees and up brick siding and over roofs to get into an attic. We sell a product called 'Slick Sheet' that can be applied to trees, siding, and electrical poles so that mice (and other critters) can't climb them anymore. Prevention is the best method, but once they're inside you want to use glue traps and snap traps baited with peanut butter and soft cheese. Mice aren't as smart as rats so mass trapping isn't as necessary but a wide range of traps should be left and in varying locations to ensure the most success possible. Every few weeks or so traps should be moved and any mice caught should be handled with rubber gloves, placed in a plastic bag, and taken to a burn plant to be incinerated. The used trap should be replaced with a new one. Mice in attics can cause a load of damage through chewed and damaged wires, heavy distribution on a ceiling from their nests, and moving to different areas of the home via the walls.
- How to Get Rid of Mice in the House
The best way to get rid of mice in a house is by using snap traps, glue traps, or colony traps and to kill them on contact. Poison is not recommended in homes because of the risk of young children and pets coming in contact with it and the chance of the mouse/mice dying inside of your home. You could also buy a new cat. High populations of natural predators like owls, snakes, foxes, weasels, raccoons, etc. in an area can also help with prevention.
- How to Get Rid of Mice in Walls
Mice love to get into walls but they can also fall down into walls and get trapped. They may have to be cut out of the wall, this is best handled by professionals. Trapping is the best method of extermination and removal of rodents in a home because it controls the carcass. When you administer poison to rodents, they store them and it can be accessed by other animals and ingested at any given time in the future, lessening the chance of successful removal. These poisons can also be accessed by pets and children.
- How to Get Rid of Mice on the Roof
Mice will climb up brick, stucco, siding, trees, and even electrical poles to get to a roof and from there can get into an attic, walls, and the main home. Trees should be kept trimmed 6-feet or more away from a roof like and bushes and shrubs should be kept low. We have a product available for purchase called 'Slick Sheet' that can be applied to all of these materials to prevent mice and other animals from climbing them. Any mice that are already on the roof should be caught with snap traps, glue traps, and/or colony traps. Any dead mice should be picked up with rubber gloves, placed in a plastic bag, and taken to a burn plant to be incinerated
- How to Get Rid of Mice on your Porch
If mice are becoming a problem outside on or under a porch, it may be because they have easy access to food. All food sources need to be sealed off or removed, this includes pet food and bird seed. It is also possible that it's not mice but bats that are infesting your porch, their droppings look similar; check that you have the right animal before setting traps and/or poison. Poison is okay to use outside as long as you're sure no pets or children will have access to it. It is also important to keep in mind that second hand poison can occur, meaning that a predatory animal like an owl, snake, fox, weasel, etc. could consume the carcass and be poisoned as well. Make sure you check your local laws before taking any preventative measures.
- How to Get Rid of Mice in the Barnyard/property
Preventing mice on a property is infinitely more difficult than in a home, but by keeping your barn and property clean, grains and food properly stored, and regularly rotating and setting out traps and poisons it can be possible. Having natural predators in the area like cats, owls, snakes, etc. can also help control and prevent mice infestations. You may want to consider attracting these animals to your property, BUT check your local laws before anything else.
- How to Get Rid of Mice in crawl spaces
Any entrances that can be used by a mouse both high and low, remember that these can be as small as a dime, need to be properly sealed off. These holes may be underneath a porch or deck or up on a roof through the attic! Poison should NOT be used in a crawlspace, it can waft up through the home and cause sickness; the poisoned rodent is also likely to die in or underneath your home somewhere where you can't do anything but smell it rotting. Traps are the best method of prevention in a crawl space because they control the carcass and can help minimize any spread of disease; these includes snap traps, glue boards, and colony traps.
- How to Get Mice out of Garbage Cans, Dumpsters, and Window Wells
Any opportunity you have to kill mice, you should. Mice populate quickly and risk spreading deadly diseases like the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Once mice in a garbage can, dumpster, or window well has died, the carcass should be removed using rubber gloves and placed in a plastic bag to be taken to a burn plant and incinerated.
NEED HELP GETTING RID OF MICE?If you are having problems, or don't want to deal with the mice yourself after reading this article, please give us a call at 1-888-488-7720, you can also contact us through email. You can also call one of the technicians from your area and they can help you figure out a solution. REMEMBER: Mice can be dangerous and working with them can be very complicated; it's best to hire a professional. Check out our YouTube channel and our website, AllstateAnimalControl.com, or use other Google resources to help you solve your problem. We do offer coaching solutions. Please send digital photos of your problem and we can coach you over the phone and ship you products for a fee.
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