Prevention:
Mice look for food and shelter. Be sure to keep pantry items secured – containers with lids will be harder for mice to infiltrate than paper or plastic bags will. Be wary of specialty items like gingerbread houses – if stored improperly, they might be discovered by the ever-opportunistic rodent community. You might think pest control is limited to bugs, but mice can be some of the most pervasive pests there are.
Mice can find shelter in your home, shed, barn, or other storage areas. Even if you use latched, plastic bins for storage of feed or even non-food items, be
sure to check regularly for cracks and holes – once mice get in, they can destroy beach chairs, linens, Christmas ornaments – nearly anything.
Dealing With Mice:
If you do find mice in your home, make sure you attend to the matter promptly. Mice can carry, among other diseases, the deadly hantavirus. Be sure to clean and disinfect wherever you see mouse droppings.
One good way to deal with mice, as well as a good way to prevent infestations in the future, is to invest in a cat. There are many services that offer barn cats for free – these cats are generally very good mousers. If you want a tamer animal, you can purchase a cat or find one at a local animal shelter. You’ll have the benefit of a new pet as well as natural elimination of mice.
Sometimes, a cat can’t diminish a population singlehandedly, and you’ll need some additional help. There are many kinds of traps available. Some involve toxic bait – if you have pets indoors, these may not be as safe as another method. Traditional mousetraps work well – the bait-and-spring mechanism may seem brutal, but mice are killed almost instantaneously.
If you don’t want to kill the mice, consider glue traps. These are sticky and trap the mouse’s feet, somewhat like birdlime. If you find the trap soon after the mouse has been caught, you can use a tongs to carry the trap outside in a bucket. Mice can disentangle themselves from the traps eventually, but make sure you don’t touch them, as bites can be harmful.
A Brevard County pest control company can help you get rid of even the most stubborn mouse infestation. Be patient and persistent, and you’ll be well on your way to a mouse-free home.