While it’s easy to brush off any evidence of mice in your home, you should actually handle the situation asap. If you hear noises in your walls at night, find little pellets in your pantry, or begin to notice a funny smell — you most likely have mice. It’s easy to just clean up the pellets and move on with your day. But where there’s one mouse, there’s a ton more hiding. Mice are rarely on their own, so if you notice these signs, you could have an infestation. Here’s what to do if you have mice in your home.
Pay Attention to the Signs
The number one mistake you can make is assuming mice will not overstay their visit. Your home can provide shelter, warmth, and unlimited food for them – why would they want to leave? Whether it’s hearing little footsteps scurrying in your walls, droplets scattered on your counter or in your pantry, chewed wires or furniture, or musty odours occurring, it’s important not to ignore these signs and act fast.
Act Fast
Familiarize yourself with the signs of mice in your home so that when you notice them, you can take action right away. Ignoring the signs won’t make the mice go away and will only escalate the matter.
Locate and Close Points of Entry
The first step is to try and locate the points of entry into your home. Ensure that all your windows, doors, vents, and any other access points to outside are closed and are sealed properly. As a rule of thumb, if you can fit a pencil into a crack or access point, then mice will be able to get through. If you notice any unsealed entries or old caulking, have a pro come fix them up.
Set Traps
Investing in mouse traps can help to control the infestation, but will not get rid of it. When laying traps, it’s important to place them in the right location. Mice rarely stray far from food sources, so setting traps near accessible food can help capture them. Setting traps where you have noticed signs, such as droppings or chewed wires, will increase your chances as well.
Hire an Expert
Ultimately, it’s very difficult to locate all entry points and capture all the mice via traps. If you are still noticing signs of mice in your home after checking and sealing access points, as well as laying traps for some time, then it’s best to call in a pro. Pest experts have the knowledge to check all possible entryways, as well as lay proper bait and traps for the best possible outcome.
Take Preventative Measures
Hiring a pro is your best bet to eliminate a pest infestation. There are things you can do to help slow or stop a current infestation and prevent more in the future.
Routinely checking points of entry for damage or decay and fixing them asap is good practice in preventing mice from entering your home in the first place. If you begin to notice any signs of entry, regularly vacuuming your floors and wiping your counter spaces will get rid of any crumbs from food that mice are very attracted to. Also storing your food in proper containers, such as glass jars instead of plastic bags, will prevent mice from chewing through them or being attracted to the scent.
Discovering you have a mice infestation can be stressful. As long as you pay attention to the signs, act fast, and call for help when you need it, you should feel relaxed in knowing you took the right precautions to eliminate the pests. If you suspect you have unwanted visitors, get connected with a pro today.
