Of all the pests in Longview, Texas, the common house mouse is one of the most frequent home invaders. These tiny rodents often make their way inside of homes and businesses, and they can easily thrive in close proximity to humans.
In fact, mice have adapted to live alongside people in a way that makes them rather dependent on us for survival. They use our dwellings for shelter and easy access to food and water sources.
While house mice might be tiny, they can cause some significant problems for property owners. To help you protect your home or business from the issues mice cause, we’ve put together a guide on identifying and preventing these rodents.
What Do House Mice Look Like?
House mice are a brownish-gray color with cream-colored underbellies. While they are smaller than rats, baby rats are sometimes mistaken for mice. There are a couple of key differences between the species you can use to tell them apart.
First, mice have more pointed, triangular heads while rats have blunter ones. Second, mice have long, thin tails while rats have shorter, scaly ones.
What Kind Of Problems Do Mice Cause?
Despite looking somewhat cute with their fuzzy appearance, the issues mice can bring aren’t that endearing. They can cause property damage and also pose many health risks.
To start with, mice, like all rodents, have the instinct to constantly gnaw in order to keep their teeth from growing too long. Because of this, they will chew through all kinds of items throughout a building, including drywall, plumbing, electrical wires, plastic, and more.
Next, mice can put human health at risk. They can spread diseases such as salmonella and tularemia, and they also often carry ticks and fleas. Mice can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems as their feces, urine, and fur build up over time.
Eight Mouse Prevention Steps
Mice can be rather difficult to keep out because they can fit through holes the size of a dime. However, there are some steps you can take to deter them, especially by removing or reducing the factors that draw mice to a property in the first place.
Here are eight of the best mouse prevention measures to take:
- Seal up holes in the walls and foundation using caulk and wire mesh.
- Clean up food and drink spills right away.
- Make sure to keep kitchens cleaned by sweeping and mopping and doing dirty dishes often.
- Cover all garbage cans with lids and remove trash from around your yard.
- Store pet food indoors in sealed containers.
- Reduce moisture around your property by fixing leaky plumbing and ensuring good ventilation in basements and crawl spaces.
- Place mesh wire over air vents and chimneys.
- Keep your yard well-maintained and get rid of organic debris.
These steps can go a long way towards keeping your home or business mouse-free and avoiding the hazards mice bring to a property.
What To Do About Mouse Infestations
If you already have mice in your Longview home or business, they can be exceptionally difficult to remove using DIY methods because they are so prolific and good at hiding in out-of-reach places.
Because of this, the best way to remove mouse infestations, and to keep them from coming back, is with assistance from Pest-Pro Services, Inc.
Get started with our mouse control services by contacting us today. We also offer free inspections.