Signs of a Mouse Infestation

There was no news story and no recent event that is going to cause mice to start invading homes. This isn't something new that is about to happen. It happens every single year. When temperatures drop, mice are motivated to get in out of the cold. Rats have a similar appetite during the cooler months. Have you experienced this? Hopefully, you've stumbled onto this article just in time. Why do we say, "just in time"? Because it is a whole lot easier to keep mice out of your home than it is to remove them, especially if you are looking to do it the hard way, which is on your own. The first step is to rodent control is to know the signs of a mouse or rat invasion in your home.

Signs of a Mouse Infestation

Most signs of a mouse infestation will be obvious. While mice do like to hide, they will also scurry about your house in plain sight. Even if you’ve only seen one or two mice, you’ll want to develop a treatment plan quickly as they can breed rapidly and cause an enormous problem.

Here are the most common mouse infestation signs:

Small footprints among the dust in your house
Small droppings
Gnaw marks on furniture and clothes
Small burrows or holes along your walls
Foul odors
Scratching noises in your walls
Signs that your food has been tampered with or eaten

Do these signs sound familiar? If so, then you might want to take a closer look by performing a mouse inspection. A professional mouse exterminator can perform a thorough inspection to see if there are mice in your house.

Mouse Prevention Tips

Effective mouse removal in Virginia Beach requires a thorough inspection and a proper implementation of control and monitoring measures. If you have not seen signs of mice inside your home, here are some control measures you can take to seal these pests out before the fall invasion. Inspect your exterior basement walls closely and use a caulking gun or hardware cloth to cover and seal entry points. Take particular notice around electrical wires and pipes that pass through your basement wall and exhaust outlets. When looking for holes, remember that a mouse can get through a hole the size of a penny. If it can fit its nose in, it can squeeze through. If it can't it may decide to chew the hole large enough so that it can fit through. Look for bad seals on door sweeps, especially the garage door. You may also notice chew holes near the corners of door frames where determined mice have gnawed their way in.

How to Get Rid of Mice

Wondering how to get rid of mice for good? There are a few DIY mouse extermination methods you could try before you give a professional a call for an estimate on extermination cost. First, try putting down wire mesh in downspouts and cut tree branches back from your roof to keep mice from climbing up and gaining access to your roof. Next, seal any food goods and garage away to prevent attracting these pesky creatures. Also, be sure to keep your kitchen and home clean. Dirty surfaces are perfect environments for mice. Don’t feed the problem with dirty dishes, food left out on your countertops, or garbage piled up in your kitchen. Mice are motivated to get inside homes when the temperatures drop. Make sure they can't get in yours. These pests spread illness, parasites, get into food and present a fire hazard when they chew on wires in your walls. Keep your family and home safe by preventing mice.

Need Help From the Professionals?

If you need help with an infestation or assistance sealing up entry points before winter or exterminating mice for good, then give us a call and let one of our certified technicians give you a hand. Avoid mice and rats with the help of our experts. When you work with Mitchell Pest Services, you know your home in Arlington is safe. Keep reading to learn about cockroaches and kitchens.

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