In the fall, all pests have one goal in mind: find shelter. Winter is long and cold, and the average mouse doesn’t want to be caught outside in it any more than people do. So, they will quietly hunt for that one place where they know that they can get all their needs met without even having to go out in the cold... inside an unsuspecting family’s home. It offers everything a mouse could possibly need: a ready supply of food and water, and a warm place to nest.
Somewhere around mid-winter or even later the homeowner might discover that they have been harboring furry little fugitives all season. Whether they find evidence of chewed pantry items or little presents in the kitchen towel drawer, the signs are there that mice have invaded. The average homeowner might think to themselves that it is just a few mice and that they will go back outside once the weather gets a bit warmer in the spring or they may think that mice belong outside and they will just go on their own in a few weeks. These are comforting theories, but they have no basis in fact
Why Mice Live Inside Your Home
Mice may not be at the top of the food chain, but they are still clever animals. They know that the human habitat has given them everything that they need for survival without pesky problems like owls or other birds of prey, stray cats, or any other creature who might do them harm. These house mice have at their disposal plenty of soft nesting materials right within the walls or even in the linen closet and a kitchen full of food and water that magically seems to replenish itself for them and all without having to search very hard at all. Now, it’s true that they will go outside in the spring because mice do like it outside, but it is also true that they will be back each evening before nightfall to relax with their growing family inside the walls.
How Quickly Do Mice Breed?
It is a bad idea to dismiss mice as a harmless addition to the home, or expect that the family cat and some store-bought mouse traps will take care of them. It is possible that the only evidence that has been seen is from one or two mice, or perhaps one has even been spotted darting across the floor, but what started out as just a few mice in November will quite likely become 15 or 20 mice by February, and the numbers will continue to grow. Mice breed phenomenally fast given the right conditions. It will not be long before that population doubles or triples and real problems begin for the human family that lives there.
What Damage Can Mice Cause on a Home?
Mice have been known to cause an extraordinary amount of damage in homes for creatures that are so small. They have razor sharp teeth that they keep honed on the woodwork, drywall, and even wiring in your home. More than one home has been lost due to fires caused by chewing mice. These creatures also carry several diseases and fleas that no one wants introduced to their homes. Salmonella, hantavirus, and typhus are some of the illnesses that mice transmit to people. Mice also leave behind a lot of waste which then gets in the air and can cause severe asthma symptoms, especially in children.
If there is evidence of a mouse in the house, it is time to give Viking Pest Control a call. Do not fall for the old wives’ tale that they will leave on their own accord. A call to us will have one of our experts at your doorstep before you know it to do a thorough inspection of your home and to discuss the safest and most effective means to rid your house of mice.
OutSMART Unwanted Guests
Anticimex SMART is an intelligent, environmentally-friendly pest control system that keeps an eye on mice activity, unlike anything currently on the market. Anticimex SMART operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and all four seasons of the year. It predicts and prevents costly mouse infestations as it tracks rodent activity.
Don’t let mice become permanent house guests, give us a call today.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about SMART mice pest control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
