You’re pulling out a coffee canister from your kitchen counter when you notice tiny black droppings. You quickly clean them up. Only moments later, you find your cardboard box of cereal has a missing section of the plastic bag and there are Froot Loops all over the cabinet. To add insult to injury, there’s an opening about the size of a dime gnawed into the corner of the cabinet. You’ve got mice.
With the colder months coming in, mice are looking for places to overwinter, and they’ve found it: your home. They’re looking for warmth, shelter, and food, and your home is the perfect place to hang out. But there are ways to prevent and remove invading mice from your property in Frisco, TX.
How do you know you have a mouse infestation?
There are a number of ways you can tell if you have invading mice, including:
- Gnaw marks - You might see tiny, uneven marks on wood, drywall, paper, plastic, and even lead pipes. Mice are also known to gnaw electrical wiring, which can cause house fires.
- Droppings – The droppings are tiny and black. You’ll find mouse droppings in places such as under sinks and in drawers and cabinets. An accumulation of feces can spread bacteria, contaminate food sources, and trigger allergic reactions in people. Dry mouse droppings crumble easily and can be inhaled, causing illnesses like Hantavirus and salmonella. Prompt removal of mouse droppings, using protective gear, is crucial.
- Urine smell – Mouse urine has a strong ammonia-like smell. If you have a mouse infestation, you’ll see dark smears around holes or around corners. These urine pillars, combined with urine and dirt, build up into small mounds that are up to 2 inches high and half an inch wide.
- Scratching noises – Mice are most active at night. You might hear scratching noises in your walls, ceiling boards, and/or attic.
- Nesting materials – You might find bits of shredded fabric, paper, or dried plant matter. Nests are often found in cabinets, lofts, attics, walls, and under floorboards.
- Footprint tracks – You might see footprint and tail tracks in places like dusty attics or lofts. If you’re not sure, dust the area with flour or talcum powder. If the area later shows tracks … you’ve got mice.
- Live or dead mice – If you see live or dead mice, you have an infestation.
- Cats = Gifts – If your resident feline constantly brings you “gifts” then you’re among the Frisco residents fed up with invading mice.
Are mice infestations dangerous?
Just because they look cute and cuddly, doesn't mean they aren't dangerous. Mice can carry a number of diseases. They also can carry fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, which are dangerous to your family and pets.
House mice are able to carry 35 serious diseases through their droppings, urine, and hair. Among them are:
- Hantavirus
- Salmonella
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
- Lyme disease
- Typhus
- Rickettsialpox
- Plague
- Rat-bite fever
- Murine typhus
- Tularemia
What are some rodent prevention tips?
- Transfer foods stored in cardboard or plastic bags into solid plastic containers. If you have pets, transfer their dry food into plastic containers as well.
- Clean up messes immediately.
- Remove trash promptly.
- Securely close garbage bins.
- Eliminate entry points. Remember mice can enter in a space the size of a dime.
- Setting traps are useful, but they can only reduce mouse populations.
- Get a cat. But they’re only good for reducing populations. Mice have a tiny network of openings to escape, openings that even the most adept feline can’t reach.
Escape artists
You might think DIY methods will eradicate your unwanted residents. You may set numerous traps and catch a few, but the rest of the population can go unscathed. In some instances, the food bait can disappear with no mouse in sight. Some traps may spring, but only catch the mouse’s tail or leg. Glue traps catch mice, but don’t kill them immediately. You also may not want to see or deal with dead mice.
Are you among the Frisco residents fed up with invading mice?
When you have serious mouse infestations, you have serious problems. If you’re among the Frisco residents fed up with invading mice, you need to call the professionals at Adams Exterminating Company. Contact them for a free estimate and keep your home mouse-free.