Although they may look cute and cuddly, don’t let appearances fool you; house mice are dangerous pests to have around your home. Not only do they carry harmful diseases, but they can also cause costly property damage to homes. To make matters worse, here in New Haven, they’re all too common. You need to know what you can do to keep these unwanted rodents out of your New Haven home. Should your home become infested, you also need to know the effective house mouse control solutions that you can rely on to effectively eliminate them and keep your family safe.
What Do House Mice Look Like?
House mice are small rodents that typically grow anywhere from one to three inches long. They are usually dust gray or brown and often have cream-colored bellies. House mice have short tails and larger ears that are covered in a felt-like fur. House mice have large front incisors that grow continuously throughout their lives.
Are House Mice Dangerous?
You wouldn’t know it by looking at them, but mice are some of the more dangerous pests to have around your home. That’s because mice carry several harmful diseases. Additionally, they can contaminate your home with bacteria and human pathogens through their saliva, urine, and feces. Some of the diseases house mice might spread include salmonellosis, leptospirosis, LCM, plague, hantavirus, rat-bite fever, and tularemia.
House mice are also dangerous to your property. That’s because as they attempt to keep their teeth from overgrowing, they will chew almost any object they come into contact with. This includes wires, pipes, drywall, furniture, clothing, and just about anything else found in the home. Mice have also been known to carry parasites such as fleas and mites. These parasites all come with their own threats which means if they get into your home, you have a lot more to worry about than just mice.
What Attracts Mice To Homes?
Mice will typically enter a home because there is easy access to food and water inside. They might enter simply because it is easy to get inside the home. Simply practicing proper food and trash storage can go a long way toward keeping mice out. You should also try to seal any potential entry points before mice come inside. Keep in mind, however, that mice can fit through tiny holes and can chew through certain materials.
How Can You Keep House Mice Out?
Being proactive about mouse control means removing any factors that might attract them inside and sealing off potential entry points. To achieve these goals, you should:
- Store all trash in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Take out the trash regularly before it overflows.
- Keep floors and storage areas free of clutter where mice can hide.
- Store food in containers that are airtight or in the refrigerator.
- Pick up any uneaten pet food.
- Seal cracks in your home’s foundations.
- Fill in cracks and cover holes around vents, utility lines, and pipes around your home’s exterior. Be sure to use a material that mice cannot chew through.
What Should You Do If Mice Infest Your Home?
If you find yourself dealing with a mouse infestation, don’t count on mousetraps to remove them for you. While they might catch a mouse or two, mousetraps aren’t effective in dealing with entire infestations.
Instead, contact Connecticut Pest Elimination, LLC and ask us about our Rodent Control Program. This treatment plan is specifically designed to target and eliminate current rodents while also taking the proper steps to protect your home from future infestations. Don’t let mice threaten your family’s safety. Give us a call today.