Everything You Could Want To Know About House Mice In Phoenix
What To Know About House Mice
The most common invasive variety of mice is the house mouse, which is a variety aptly named for their habit of getting inside of human properties. They thrive off of the food and shelter that homes provide and they are very good at hiding within empty, tight spaces. Often, homeowners aren’t even aware that rodents have moved in before they start to notice the other signs of their activity. Even still, it’s important to know how to tell mice apart from other pests:
- Size: Mice are much smaller than the other common invasive rodent, rats. They typically only grow a few inches in total length.
- Color: House mice can be brown or gray, though some albino varieties can be white or golden-haired.
- Ears: Mice ears are perfectly round and quite large, sitting directly atop their heads.
The Dangers Of House Mice
Because you’re not likely to spot mice directly, it’s important to know what other signs to pick up on. Unfortunately, the moment a rodent population hunkers down on your property, they can immediately cause damage or pose health risks. Here are some of the biggest problems caused by house mice:
- Damage: From scratches and bite marks to urine stains and damaged wiring, there are all kinds of ancillary signs of rodent activity. They burrow through walls and cause damage, not to mention the things they can ruin with their constant chewing.
- Disease: Mice are known to carry and transmit harmful diseases like rabies and plague. They are also often infested with parasites that are also harmful to people and pets.
- Odor: With their constant dropping of urine and feces, especially inside of walls and vents, mice contribute to gross smells that fill a home.
House Mice Prevention Tips
Rather than react only once you’ve seen the signs of mice activity, it’s important to stay on top of early prevention that can pre-empt an infestation. Here are some tips for how you can make your home less attractive and accessible for house mice:
- Food storage: Mice are foragers, constantly looking for food sources and leftovers that might be around. As such, it’s important for you to deep clean for crumbs and traces, as well as keep stored foods in secure locations and sturdy containers that can’t be chewed through.
- Trash storage: Not only do you need to worry about the food in the pantry, you need to pay attention to the food you throw away. Mice will root through trash cans, inside and outdoors, so it’s important to keep them well-secured.
- Crack sealing: Rodents can dig or pick their way through even small cracks or holes in your exterior to gain access to your home. Frequently checking for and fixing any faults you find will help make your home impregnable to mice.
- Decluttering: Excessive clutter or debris can provide house mice with lots of places to hide and hunker down. This is true of storage areas like attics and crawl spaces and of yard debris around your exterior.
Effective Prevention & Control From Bug Science
Mice are good at finding ways in despite the best efforts of homeowners. While taking early control measures can put you a step ahead of an infestation, only professional solutions provide guarantees that mice won’t get inside your home. At Bug Science, our expert home pest control and commercial pest control staff can get started right away on an inspection of your home, providing you with even more helpful insight and tips on how to address pest problems before they form. If house mice, or any other pest, are already there, only proven removal methods will let you rest easy knowing the problem has been completely eliminated.
Don’t let house mice invade your home; get started on proper rodent prevention and control solutions today.