The humble house mouse might not seem like a serious intruder, but keeping these little creatures out of your home is important. They can gnaw on woodwork or wires and cause real damage, and their droppings can be hazardous to you and your family.
If you spot a mouse in your home, it's essential that you act immediately. This way you can eliminate these pests and keep your house safe from any issues.
Make sure your home is clean
As Live Science reported, the house mouse is just one of several species that could end up in your home. Unlike rats, mice are small and less brazen in exploring your home. Still, whether you physically see a mouse or just notice droppings, your first step is to make sure you aren't enticing any pests with free food.
This means making sure your floors and countertops are clean of crumbs, as mice can be very opportunistic when looking for a meal. This also means talking to your family about cleaning up when eating in the living room or storing snacks upstairs. If there is a mouse in your home and easily accessible food, it will likely take advantage. Use plastic bins and bags to store open food and be sure to emphasize keeping your home clean. Without something to eat, mice are much less likely to venture out into your kitchen or dining room.
Address any obvious openings or hideouts
Keeping mice away from your family is a good place to start, but you also want to keep them from entering your home in the first place. Look for gaps or holes in the siding of your home, as these can be easy places for pests to get inside. Next, consider other locations, like air ducts, your garage or window siding. Make sure these areas are well-sealed. The Illinois Department of Public Health stated that a mouse can comfortably enter any opening 1/4 inch across or larger.
Within your home, small nooks and crannies can give mice and other creatures enough cover to feel safe. The gap between kitchen appliances is a good example. Look for droppings in these areas and consider filling them or making them less accessible.
Lay down live traps
Once you've inspected your home and have identified areas mice might be traveling or spending time, put out a few live traps. These are most humane and won't kill any creatures. Instead the mice will be safely and securely captured. You need not worry about coming in contact with a mouse or other animal. Set the critter free in the yard. There can be restrictions for releasing animals at a local park, so be sure to check with your neighborhood officials if you want to create more space between your home and any mice.
Only set a mouse loose on your property after you've covered up any holes or access points. Otherwise the animal might head right back into your house in search of food and warmth.
Contact a pest removal specialist
You may be able to get rid of a few mice, and taking proactive steps can minimize your risk of encountering new critters. If you feel as if you are housing a whole family of mice or you're having trouble keeping them out of your home, it's best to call in a pest removal professional.
The risks that mice pose aren't worth ignoring, and letting an infestation endure for many weeks can leave your home and family vulnerable. Work with mouse control specialists to make sure you and your family are safe.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
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During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
