Mice look cute and your kids may even have a few as pets—but too many in the house will become a serious problem! A growing mouse population isn’t something any Australian homeowner wants to contend with, particularly as these little creatures can cause damage, contaminate food and spread disease.
Homeowners looking for pest control Melbourne residents use to control pests need to know a few things about having mice in their homes. You may be wondering if you can trap and relocate them yourself and perhaps you’re considering poison for controlling a burgeoning mouse population. Getting rid of mice isn’t always that simple!
Read on to find out what you need to know about mice, when you know you have a problem and how to best control it before it becomes a seriously pesky infestation!
3 Things Homeowners Need to Know About Mice in the House
1. What Are the Signs of a Mouse Infestation?
One or two mice in the house won’t necessarily be a problem but it doesn’t take long for them to grow into a large population. So, how do you know that you have a mouse infestation in your home?
Besides seeing mice scurrying around or a dead mouse in one of your rooms, there are other signs to look out for that could tell you there’s an invasion:
- Infrastructural damage:Gnawed holes in doors, walls and cupboards indicate mice (or rat) activity.
- Scavenged food:Half-eaten stored food or gnawed holes in packaging are signs mice are invading your kitchen pantry. Food scraps or wrapping in strange places such as inside your wardrobe or in your shoes are other signs mice are scavenging for goodies in your home.
- Droppings:Large populations of mice leave behind heaps of black rice-shaped droppings as well as urine trails on the floors.
- Nesting activity:Piles of nest material such as shredded paper, fabric and grass in a cupboard, under a bed or in the laundry are signs mice have moved into your home!
Other telltale signs of mice activity in the home are rustling, skittering or scratching sounds from the ceiling or behind walls and a musty or stale odour.
2. Mice vs. Rats: Which Problem are You Dealing With?
Rodents are a common problem in homes and other buildings and knowing which species it is helps you use the right pest control method. Mice and rats are the types of rodents that are most likely to cause infestations in the home. But, how do you tell the difference between these two creatures?
Mice
These curious creatures are smaller than rats, weighing in at about 0.5 ounces. A house mouse has light brown fur with some grey shading and a dark tail. Mice love cereal grains and plant matter but will eat almost anything and they’re nocturnal creatures preferring to only come out after dusk.
Rats
Larger rodents compared to mice, rats can weigh anything between 7 and 11 ounces. They have heavy and stout bodies with shaggy, dark coats. They have blunt snouts and small ears and prefer to eat fresh grains and meat. Rats never wander far from their nest or burrow and are also active at nighttime.
3. Pest Control: How to Use a Mouse Trap
Once you’ve identified a mouse problem in the house, you need to do some pest control to prevent an infestation. The most favourable DIY option is to use a mouse trap but to be successful you need to know what to do with it!
These two tips will help you get the most out of your mouse trap:
- Placement:Mouse traps should be placed in areas that show signs of mice activity. This could include nesting sites and gnawed items or infrastructure. If there’s no success after a few days, move the trap to another site that’s close to food and water.
- Bait:Cheese isn’t the best bait to use despite what popular cartoons show! Peanut butter, bacon bits, dried fruit and sticky sweets are most attractive to curious mice.
Deciding what type of mouse trap is best depends on whether you want to kill or relocate the rodent. Snap traps normally kill the rodents instantly while live traps offer a more humane method of trapping and relocating mice to another area away from your home.
Hiring the services of a professional pest control company is often the best route to take if you have a mouse infestation. These experts know how to get rid of mice quickly and efficiently while keeping you, your family and your pets safe.
Final Thoughts
Controlling mice invasions is essential if you want to minimise damage to your home, food supplies, furnishing and paperwork. A serious plague can spread disease, creating an unhealthy environment for you and your family. However, there are ways of controlling a mushrooming mice population in the house!
Professional pest control methods will have your mouse problem sorted in no time at all – and the experts will show you how to prevent it from happening again. So, as soon as you know you have mice in the house, call for the pest experts and get the problem sorted, sooner rather than later!
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