Do you have mice sharing your home with you this winter? We are
not talking about the cute, clean, white kind that love to run on a
wheel and are fun to watch, especially when they run so fast that
they flip right upside down as the wheel turns. We’re talking about
the not-so-white, not-so-clean kind that live in your attic and
wall voids. The kind that chew holes in your outside walls to get
in! The kind that leave excrement in your attic spaces, cabinets,
and on countertops! The kind that can chew on wires inside your
walls and cause a fire!
If you have mice living inside your home, you may know it; but it
is possible that you don’t because they aren’t always easy to
detect. Knowing the signs mice leave can save you from fighting
mysterious mouse-related illness in your home all season long.
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Noises: Things that go bump in the night. If there are mice living inside your attic and wall voids, it is likely you will be able to hear them moving around, especially at night since mice are nocturnal. You might hear scratching, scampering, or chewing noises. Sure, it’s annoying; but at least they are making themselves known.
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Droppings: At about ¼ of an inch long, mouse droppings typically are found in drawers and cabinets, under sinks, or near places where food is stored.
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Gnaw marks: The teeth of rodents never stop growing, so mice will chew. Look for marks on baseboards, doors, packaged goods, cabinets, and around pipes. Also, look for little piles of wood chips or shavings.
Tracks: Mice will leave tiny footprints in areas where powdery substances have been left.
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Musty odor: If your mouse infestation is large, you may start to detect an unpleasant odor.
If you would rather not have to deal with mice in your attic, wall voids, or worse, your living spaces, here are some things you can do to try and keep those pesky rodents out:
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Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
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Put screens over chimney vents and other openings.
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Seal up all cracks and holes on the outside of your home, including areas where utilities enter the home.
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Fix water leaks around pipes, sinks, tubs, etc.
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Keep all food in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.
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Thoroughly clean your home, especially where food is present.
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Keep basements, crawl spaces, and attics dry and ventilated.
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Store firewood well away from the outside of your house and make sure it is kept up off the ground.
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Trim trees and bushes away from your home.
If you already have mice living inside your home, the above steps can help to resist them, but the better course of action is to have those mice completely removed. At Adam’s Pest Control, our licensed and certified service technicians are fully educated and equipped to handle any household pest problem, including mice. Give us a call and tell us what signs you’re seeing or hearing, and we will get you on your way to being mouse-free.
