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Winter is the time when mice are most likely to infest your home. In winter, food and shelter become high priorities for mice and your house is a warm, tempting shelter from the elements with an on-tap food source. You may not even know you have uninvited house guests either until you spot the evidence:
droppings | urine stains | footprints | oily markings from pelts | disappearing food | gnawed food containers | damaged walls
Mice are nocturnal and are at most active at night, so they can be difficult to eradicate once they’ve got inside your home. By nature, mice are neophilic, which means they are constantly exploring to find food, so no part of your home will be off-limits. If a mouse finds a barrier, if it can, it will gnaw through it to carry on its investigation. A lack of water isn’t a problem either as if mice have access to moistened food then they don’t need to drink. It doesn’t take long before the word is out, and the mouse is inviting his mates round for a party.
Mouse Proofing
There are a few things you can do to mouse proof your premises. First, make it difficult as possible for mice to enter the building by sealing access to any small gaps or holes they might squeeze through. Especially check for gaps around electricity, gas and water pipes, and make sure door and windows are tightly fitted. Basements and garages are also favourite entry points. Mice can enter through a hole as small as 6mm in diameter and rats through a 12mm hole – that’s really tiny!
Be super careful about not tempting hungry mice by leaving crumbs and food scraps lying on the kitchen bench, wipe up spills and sweep the floor regularly. Don’t leave uneaten pet food out. Store any loose food items in airtight glass, metal or strong plastic containers with tight lids. Apparently mice love a chocolate fix, so don’t blame the kids if you find your bar of dairy milk nibbled.
Be hygienic with household rubbish by removing it to a bin located away from the house, and if using a compost bin don’t throw in meat, fish or bread as mice love these foods. Discourage mice from hanging around outside by removing weeds and rubbish from your garden,
Mouse Problem?
If you’ve heard tiny footsteps pattering overhead at night or discovered a suspicious looking mouse-sized hole in the pantry, then it’s pretty safe to say you have an unwelcome visitor that will be running rampant at night. A mouse problem needs to be treated speedily as not only will they tuck into your favourite biscuits, they can spread disease and cause damage.
To double check your suspicions, stuff the hole with newspaper and check the next day to see if it’s been pushed out. If you suspect the problem is bigger than just a lone mouse, then contact Cure All. We can take care of any mice issues you may be experiencing, with an inspection, baiting and deterrence methods carried out at minimal disturbance to you and your family.
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