Although mice are frequently featured in popular films and cartoons, they are not as welcome in our homes as on the big screen. Mice belong to the Rodentia family of rodents, which also includes rats, squirrels, and hamsters. Mice and rats are among the most problematic species in metropolitan areas because of their propensity to cause harm to property and infrastructure.
Mouse Species
The house mouse (Mus musculus), roof rat (Rattus rattus), and Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) are the most frequent rodent pests seen in cities. The house mouse can be identified from the other two species by several features. They are small (5 to 7 inches long) and generally brownish to grey in colour. Mice have big ears and tiny black eyes, which distinguish them from rats.
There are a few simple things you can do to keep them away from your property.
1. Examine your home and its surroundings for infestation signs.
The most obvious signs of a mouse infestation include droppings, gnaw marks and tracks. The droppings are typically less than 6.4mm in size. Mice are similar to other rodents in that they gnaw on anything to file their teeth down. They like chewing on wood and wires, which can cause significant structural damage as well as fire risks.
2. Always double-check that doors and windows are properly shut.
We should always keep the doors of our homes closed to prevent unwanted guests from entering. When no one is at home, windows should be closed so that you do not return home to find “new tenants.”
Mice are agile climbers, so they’ll have no trouble climbing up the windows and getting inside.
3. Mice may gain entry by sealing all potential entrance points.
Mice are so small and their bodies are so flexible that they may enter spaces as tiny as a quarter of an inch across. Other possible entry points should be sealed, such as closing all doors and windows, to prevent them from getting into the house. Gaps around pipes, holes on the roof, and gaps between doors and the floor are all potential access points for mice. All possible entry points for mice should be blocked with materials that cannot be gnawed through by rodents, such as cement or wire mesh less than a quarter of an inch wide to keep them out.
4. All food should be kept airtight.
Mice will eat whatever humans consume. Humans are vulnerable to infestation by a variety of pests, including mice, ants, flies, and cockroaches, when food is left unguarded. To avoid not just pests but also bacteria, make sure your food is kept properly refrigerated.
5. Food waste should be disposed of properly.
Mice are less discerning when it comes to food than we are. They will be drawn to, and nourish on, the waste products we produce. It is critical to properly discard food waste since it will make your house less attractive to mice due to a lack of sources of food. To keep mouse infestations at bay, practice excellent waste management by keeping the trash chute and containers in your home free of rodents. These are favourite foraging locations for mice because they’re full of garbage.
6. Remove any locations where mice may hide.
A mouse’s “house” is really a hole or gap located at the base of a wooden wall in classic cartoons. A mouse hole is one of the locations where mice may be found because they can gnaw through wooden walls to create their nests inside the hollow spaces behind them. Mice are able to gnaw through solid timber to build their nests within hollow cavities hidden behind it, therefore you may prevent sharing your home with these sneaky creatures by cleaning all rubbish and plugging any holes or cracks around it.
7. Use traps.
If your home has been infested with mice, you may use traps to get rid of them. Snap traps, glue traps, cages, and electrocution traps are just a few of the devices that may be utilized to capture mice. The position of the traps is critical to their efficacy. Mice are likely to move about touching the wall, which is why traps should be placed behind things, in dark nooks and along edges near walls. Furthermore, attractants can help you get more mice.
Mice are one of the most common rodents found in Utah homes. While there are many steps you can take to keep mice out, the first and most important step is maintaining an open mind.
Early detection of events allows for the removal of infestation and management of their population. Because poor sanitation is always the cause of the infestation, we will be able to keep mice away from us by practising good sanitary practices.