House mice are one of those pests that it seems you just can’t keep out of anywhere. They’re not native to our islands, but they’ve easily spread themselves to the Turks & Caicos and even more remote islands using human shipping routes. If they can get onto small islands with ease, you can bet breaking into your home will be no problem either. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to keep them out – let’s take a look.
A Mouse In The House
Many people who see mice in their homes worry they might have rats also. However, there are some ways to tell the difference. The most obvious distinction between rats and mice is their size. Rats are typically several times larger than mice. Mice are not just smaller than rats. They look a little different too. Mice have proportionally smaller feet and bigger ears than rats. They also have fuzzier tails and more pointy faces.
Despite being a little cuter than rats, mice are no less disgusting. They can spread virtually all the diseases rats do. They destroy just as much property as rats. And they can bring just as many secondary infestations into your home. As far as disease is concerned, mice are super vectors.
Rodents in general spread over 40 different pathogens, including:
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Hemorrhagic Fever
- Lassa Fever
- Leptospirosis
- Plague
- Rat-Bite Fever
- Salmonellosis
- Tularemia
Many of these diseases aren’t just severe and potentially deadly on an individual level; some of them have been responsible for deadly global pandemics.
Parasite infestations are another common problem with mice. Just like every other wild mammal, mice are infested themselves. They carry fleas, ticks, mites, scabies, worms, and other parasites. When they infest your home, they introduce these pests into your living space. Sometimes, they can trigger secondary infestations or even infect your pets.
Mice can also destroy property as well as any rat infestation. Just like rats, mice will chew through walls and rip up furniture and insulation to build their nests. Also like rats, mice have to grind down their constantly growing teeth. They’ll take advantage of just about anything hard to do this. They’ll chew through wooden furniture, gnaw on vinyl siding, and even bite right through electrical wiring. An untreated mouse infestation can wreak all kinds of havoc on your house.
House Mouse Prevention
House mice can destroy your health and your home. That means you need to take every measure to make your house a less hospitable place for them:
- Eliminate access points to your house. This includes repairing cracks and holes and making sure window and door screens are free of rips or tears. You should also cover legitimate openings like chimneys and ventilation ducts with rodent mesh.
- Reduce attractants to your home. Cover all garbage, no matter if it’s inside or outside. Keep foods either in the fridge or hard plastic containers with tight lids. Clean up after meals and vacuum regularly to get rid of crumbs.
- Clear clutter. Pick up anything that could provide hiding places. Make sure firewood is stored off the ground and far away from your home’s exterior.
- Get a cat or dog. Mice will find your home less attractive as a breeding site if it has as many predators inside as it does outside.
If your best measures don’t keep the mice out of your home, you may have to take things up a notch with professional rodent control. Here at Parkway Pest Solutions, we can help you get rid of any size house mouse infestation as well as any secondary infestations they may have brought with them. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your residential pest control appointment today.