The thought of sharing your home with mice might make your skin crawl. Seeing a mouse skittering across your floor can send you into a panic.
Having deer mice in the home is far more serious than the fact that they might give you the heebie-jeebies, though.
We’re in the midst of a deer mice epidemic in Southern Ontario. Homeowners, cottage owners, and property owners should be on high alert. Pay attention to these signs of deer mice in Ontario, and take note of the dangers that come with having these rodents in your home.
Sightings
Seeing a mouse is a sure-fire sign you have mice in your home. But how can you tell if it’s a regular house mouse or a deer mouse? Though similar in size, these two rodents can be differentiated based on some key features.
Deer mice in Ontario have larger eyes and larger ears. They’re also two-tone, with white feet and bellies. This is in contrast to the house mouse, which is either grayish brown or all gray, with no white belly. Deer mice also have two-tone hairy tails, while the house mouse’s tail is typically gray and hairless.
Strange Noises
If you’re hearing strange noises coming from your attic or walls, don’t dismiss them. It’s probably not just the wind! If mice are in your home, you might hear some skittering across your ceiling, scratching in your walls, or even odd gnawing or chewing noises.
Deer mice in Ontario only weigh a few grams, so the sounds of them walking around your attic will be very soft. Because the teeth of mice never stop growing, the critters will constantly be chewing or gnawing to wear them down. Be on high alert for these common noises made by deer mice.
Droppings
Droppings are another sure-fire sign you have deer mice in your home. Deer mice produce 50 to 75 droppings per day! So, if you have an infestation, you’ll definitely find droppings if you inspect your home thoroughly.
Deer mice droppings are pointed at each end, approximately a quarter inch in length, and dark in colour.
These fecal pellets, however, are also the most significant danger you face as a homeowner with a deer mouse infestation. If you do identify deer mouse droppings in your home, be cautious when cleaning up. Six percent of deer mice carry the hantavirus. When old mouse droppings are disturbed, they can release airborne hantavirus particles that you may end up inhaling. If this occurs, you could contract hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is a serious, and sometimes fatal, respiratory disease. HPS can also be contracted through contact with foods and objects contaminated with infected deer mouse waste as well as through mouse bites.
Contact with infected mouse droppings can also lead to risks of contracting leptospirosis, salmonellosis, tularemia, and more.
Ectoparasites
Deer mice, like most other wild animals, carry ectoparasites, including fleas, lice, and ticks. Once these ectoparasites enter your home, they can be difficult to get rid of. They may infest your pets and invade your home.
Some of the ectoparasites are more than a nuisance, however. They can pose health risks to you and your family. Deer mice in particular are known carriers of the deer tick, which is known to transmit Lyme disease. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to neurological illnesses.
If you suspect you have deer mice in your home, contact a humane animal removal company immediately. Its trained, experienced technicians will be able to manage an infestation before it gets out of control. The health risks are simply too great to delay getting mouse removal services.
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