How To Avoid Mice This Winter

Here in Tennessee, where the winter weather tends to be much milder than many other parts of the country, mice take notice when temperatures begin to drop. When there is a nip in the air, when the leaves start to turn colors, and when the ground begins to be a little colder on little feet, mice start looking for a warm place to spend the winter. If your home happens to be nearby, and there are ways for a small creature to squeeze inside, it will. And if it does, it is likely that it will settle in for a good long stay, and probably start a family as well.

Why Is It Bad If Mice Move Inside?

Mice love to chew: Mice are rodents, and rodents have teeth that never stop growing. So, they have to keep chewing on stuff to wear their teeth down. If they didn't, those teeth would grow and grow and become too long. Mice will chew on wood, sometimes doing this to make a hole big enough to squeeze through. They will also chew on everything from antique items stored in the attic, to electrical wiring. Either way, they have the potential to do some pretty major damage.

Mice have the potential to spread disease: Mice can bring bacteria in from sewers, dumpsters and the like, and spread it around your home when they do their nighttime roaming in search of food. Some of the diseases they have been known to transmit include tularemia, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, and leptospirosis.

Mice carry parasites: In addition to disease-causing bacteria, mice also carry parasites such as lice, mites, ticks, and fleas. Lice can plague an entire household and be a challenge to eradicate. Mites can infest pets. Ticks can spread other diseases, not the least of which is Lyme disease. And fleas can infest pets, and your entire home. These are all things that are no fun to deal with. If you can keep out the mice, you can keep these parasitic creatures out as well.

How To Keep Mice From Invading Your Home

There are several steps you can take to make your yard and your home less inviting to pests such as mice.

• Declutter your yard

• Keep your grass short and your property free of weed overgrowth

• Trim vegetation away from your home

• Seal up any holes found in your foundation or outer walls

• Clean your house thoroughly and remove water sources

If you are already dealing with a mouse infestation, it may be necessary to call a professional pest control company. Mice can be difficult, if not impossible, to totally get rid of once they have established themselves inside your attic and wall voids. Here at All-American, we have the knowledge, equipment, and experience to totally eradicate your mouse problem. Reach out to us today for prompt assistance.