Winter's Coming And So Are The Mice

There is a children's nursery rhyme that reflects the thoughts of a little child on the subject of mice in the house. It goes something like this. "I think mice are rather nice… Their ears are pink, their teeth are white. They run about the house all night. They nibble things they shouldn't touch. And no one seems to like them much..."

There is truth in this rhyme. Children, who don't have to worry about paying the bills from the destruction a rodent infestation, might think mice are nice. But even children recognize that no one seems to like mice in the house and that they chew on things they shouldn't. And mice don't just chew on things like cheese and cake crumbs. They chew on a whole host of other things that could cause major damage. And with fall right around the corner, now is the time to start preparing for the winter invasion of mice.

When temperatures start to fall, mice begin to look for a nice warm place to spend the winter. If your home is inviting, and there are ways for mice to get in, it is likely a mouse or two, or a whole lot more, will invade your wall voids and attic spaces and set up housekeeping for the winter--and beyond. Once established in a home, mice don't generally leave again when the weather warms up.

The Problems With Mice In Your Home

• Parasites: When these little critters invade, they do not come alone. One little mouse can have as many as 100 ticks in its fur. Other parasites they may have are mites and fleas.

• Diseases: Mice are known carriers of diseases such as Lyme disease (via ticks) salmonella, rat-bite fever, hantavirus, typhus, and plague.

• Bad smells: Wherever they roam, mice leave their urine and feces. If populations are allowed to grow, your home will begin to have an unpleasant smell.

• Chewing damage: As mentioned, mice love to chew on things they shouldn't. With their ever-growing teeth, that they need to wear down, they will chew on everything from stored items to electrical wiring in the walls. You could lose a treasured keepsake, or your whole house if wire chewing causes a spark.

 How To Keep Mice From Invading

There are several steps you can take to keep mice from entering your home. First, know that mice are attracted to a cluttered yard. The more hiding places the better. So decluttering your yard will help. Removing food and water sources from your yard will help deter mice from sticking around. And, sealing up any gaps or cracks in your foundation and outer walls will help keep mice and other pests from squeezing in and invading your home.

But, the surest way to prevent mice from getting into your home this fall is to partner with a pest control company, like All-American Pest Control. Not only can we prevent mice from getting in, we can set you up so that all those other pests that plague you year round will be a thing of the past. Contact us today for more information.