Mice are one of Modesto’s (and the rest of the world’s) most stubborn pests. They figured out about 15,000 years ago that human homes are a lot better than outside. They’ve been making themselves unwelcome squatters ever since, eating our food, drinking our water, living in our walls, and generally mooching off us. Not only are these little freeloaders destructive to property, but they also can spread just about every parasite and pathogen rats can. They might look cuter and cuddlier than your average scabies-ridden sewer rat, but mice aren’t really a lot less gross. Below, we’ll talk about how you can keep these nasty vermin away from your property.
House Mouse Description
Common mice are tiny – much smaller than rats. While rats can grow to more than a foot long and weigh well over a pound, mice usually only weigh a few ounces and are not typically more than three to four inches in body length. Mice are furry, and they’re generally grey or brown on their backs and sides with lighter colored underbellies. They have proportionately small feet and large ears, and they usually have tails that are furrier than rats’ but not as furry as squirrels’.
Mice are semi-dependent on humans. They wouldn’t go extinct if the entire human race up and disappeared one day, but many individuals and sometimes entire varieties get most to all of their sustenance from human homes and businesses. Mice are pickier than rats, so they’re not going to root through your garbage if there are better options. Most of the time, mice would rather eat the things in your pantry: seeds, grains, dried fruits, cereals, and other staples. That sometimes can make mice even worse than rats because they’re more prone to contaminating your food stores. Rats go for easy access, while mice prefer to stick to what they like to eat unless they have no other options. This means a mouse infestation can contaminate your kitchen and pantry with droppings, saliva, and shed hairs.
Dangers Of Mice
As we said above, mice are just as dangerous as rats. They spread most of the same diseases in all of the same ways that rats do. In addition to contaminating food stores and surfaces with their droppings, mice can also bring secondary infestations and parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites into your home. Mice can also expose you to pathogens by contaminating your home’s air. They may also die in your house and expose you to germs associated with decay. Diseases spread by mice include:
- Hantavirus
- Salmonella
- Rat-Bite Fever
- Plague
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
Many of these diseases are quite serious. They can land you in the hospital and even put you at risk of death.
All this means preventing mice is vital to staying happy and healthy in your own home. Measures to keep mice away from your home include these exclusion methods and by reducing these attractants:
- Seal off potential mouse entry points, and remember no hole is too small for them to squeeze into.
- Cover all indoor and outdoor trash cans with well-fitting lids.
- Keep pantry foods in airtight, hard plastic containers to prevent mice from chewing through them.
- Never leave pet food or bowls sitting out. Put them away when not in use.
- Have a professional treatment plan.
Mice are motivated little creatures, and sometimes you just can’t keep them out despite your best efforts. Here at Peace of Mind Pest Control, we’ve been Modesto’s premier pest control company for over ten years. There’s no mouse infestation in your house too big or too stubborn for us. So give us a call at (209) 301-8881 or visit our contact page to schedule your home inspection today and get started on our effective home pest contro!
