If you have mice and rodents in your home or around your property, they’re going to cause some trouble. They don’t mean to harm you, they’re just trying to live their life alongside yours. Here’s what you need to know about these critters to protect you and your family.
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Lifestyle
There’s never just one in your home. Mice, in particular, breed quickly, birthing between five and six babies per litter, with up to twelve litters a year. This is what makes it so hard to get rid of mice. Mating season generally goes from early summer to late fall, but with indoor mice, mouse season is all year long.
These nimble rodents like to build their nests in dark, cozy spaces, and they’re shy creatures that prefer isolation with little human interaction, making them hard to spot. They’re also nocturnal, and they’ll wait until dusk to go foraging for food, spending the day dormant or sleeping.
Mice and other rodents are great climbers, well-equipped to quickly move up and down walls and across ceilings, with a grip that easily allows for this. Both high and low spaces are readily available. They only need a small hole to get inside, and their flexible ribs combined with a well-shaped collarbone allow them to flatten and squish their body as necessary to slip through tight spaces.
They’re avid eaters—eating up to twenty times a day, and any food they find. If you have mice and rodents, check your pantries and cupboards—areas where food is easily accessible. These spots commonly have the mark of a rodent, whether it’s droppings or chew marks on cardboard boxes. Any food lying is considered fair game.
Health Hazards
It’s important to ensure a thorough cleaning of any areas mice and rodents have left their mark. These critters are walking disease machines, meaning it’s not enough to evict the animal; homeowners need to ensure thorough decontamination after.
Parasites and viruses hide in their urine, feces, and fur, contaminating any surface these rodents touch. Mice are popular carriers of LCM, an airborne disease that can be caught just by inhaling dust polluted with urine and droppings. Airborne diseases require extra precaution as contraction is so easy here. Hantavirus, salmonella, and listeria are a few other zoonotic diseases that mice and rodents can carry. Avoid handling droppings and nests for DIY removal methods.
While complications from the diseases range from mild to serious, homeowners need to ensure extra care. Any food should be put away in sealed containers so it’s difficult for mice and rodents to get inside. Cleaning the home and areas where it looks like rodents live needs proper equipment and safety measures to avoid getting sick. These creatures may not look menacing, but they can pack a punch.
Property Damage
Mice and rodents are gnawing creatures that chew on anything they can to keep their teeth sharp—and that quite literally means anything. Concrete, drywall, electrical wires, structural beams, these animals are practically unstoppable. This creates a problem for the home’s structure, as rodents cause serious damage and costly repairs that may not always be covered by home insurance. Not only will you have to deal with this issue, you could be stuck paying out of pocket.
Chewed wires create an electrical problem that extends past flickering lights and short fuses. House fires and other hazards are a common result of faulty wiring by gnawing rodents. The longer mice and rodents remain around the property and in the home, the more damage they can cause. Protect the integrity of your home to avoid additional restoration costs caused by rodents.
If you think you have mice and rodents in your home, deal with the problem quickly and contact your local wildlife removal services.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!