December 15, 2021 - Mice
Mice are one of the most common home-invading pests. Over generations of humans, they’ve lived and moved alongside us as we developed communities and put down roots. Because they’ve been evolving at our sides, mice have become dependent on human civilization for food, water, and shelter, and as such, they survive and thrive inside our homes with ease. Though they’ve been in our homes since the dawn of civilized time, that doesn’t mean they’re welcome. Mice are dangerous pests to have in the home.
The Dangers Of Mice In The Home
Mice are small, surprisingly smart creatures that can create complex social networks inside your home, making it hard to keep them out and eradicate infestations on your own. Not only can they fit through holes in your home the size of a dime, but they are also excellent chewers. Where there’s a will for mice, there’s a way.
This willfulness manifests in potential damage to your home, including:
- Ruining stored food by chewing through boxes and contaminating them
- Stealing items from storage like fabrics and papers to build nests
- Destroying insulation
- Gnawing through wood and support beams
- Chewing through electrical wires and plumbing
Some of these damages can pose serious safety threats for your Denver homes, including fire hazards and short-circuiting from damaged wires.
Not only can mice cause physical damage and create safety risks, but they also risk the health of family members and pets. Mice are agile, and contaminating the insides of cabinets, counters, and floors is as easy as leaving a few droppings on their way through or getting their greasy bodies inside your cereal box.
If they manage to infest these high-touch areas, these are some of the potential health risks:
- Worsening asthma in children
- The spread of salmonella through their feces
- Rat-bite fever from contact with a dead mouse or contaminated food
- Disease-carrying fleas, mites, and ticks
As simply coming in contact with a mouse or its urine or droppings can put someone at risk of developing dangerous diseases, it’s best to leave mice control to the professionals.
House Mouse Prevention Tips
Keeping mice out of the home in the first place is the most ideal option. Most of the time, sanitization and home maintenance procedures will do the trick. Try these tips to keep mice out of your home:
- Seal holes and cracks as large as a dime or as wide as a pencil with silicon-based caulk or steel wool.
- Keep storage and living areas clutter-free. If boxes are a necessity, make them sealed plastic containers, not cardboard.
- Store food in glass or metal, sealed containers.
- Clean up spills, vacuum regularly, and don’t let spilled cabinet food collect in corners or on floors.
- Store woodpiles or other outdoor clutter and debris at least twenty feet away from the home. Check objects thoroughly before bringing them indoors.
Unfortunately, mice can be stubborn, and they’re not easily dealt with alone. If you fear an ongoing infestation or need guidance on prepping your home to keep rodents out, it’s time to call Absolute Pest Control.
Contact Absolute Pest Control For Total Infestation Removal
At-home treatments are not likely to be effective against house mice. Not only is it dangerous to put yourself in close contact with them, but they will likely learn from and avoid DIY traps, or die in hard-to-reach places, putting your home at greater risk of pest infestation. Rely on the residential pest control professionals at Absolute Pest Control to take care of the entire infestation. Call or visit our contact page today for a free quote.