Incredible as it sounds, rodents exhibit feats such as traversing ladders, clambering walls, negotiating wires, and swimming through sewer systems (astonishingly, even making an appearance through your loo!) to find a way into your home. So, what can be done to dissuade them?
These tenacious creatures, called mice, are adept at adjusting to their surroundings. Their unyielding pursuit for nourishment, coziness, and a safe haven often leads them to your doorstep, finding in your home the perfect source for their necessities. These demands amplify with the onset of the colder seasons.
If you detect a mice issue in your vicinity, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at On Demand Pest Control. They will not only help you displace the present rodent intruders but also prevent the likelihood of future infestations.
Why do Mice Settle in My Residence?
Mice possess an uncanny ability to infiltrate your home using various ingenious means. They exploit crevices in your basement, entrances, small gaps around plumbing, deteriorated roofs, air vents, and drainage pipes to name a few. The acrobatic skills of mice are notable; they can ascend 6.5-foot walls, navigate through pencil-sized holes, and vault to a height of 24cm.
To prosper, mice demand three principal essentials: a safe place, a warm environment, and a steady food supply — aligning closely with human needs. Once they’ve breached your home, mice will:
Scout for Warm Areas
Mice tend to prefer isolated, warm regions in your home, more so if they are near a potential food source, like your kitchen or dining area. This propensity explains why mouse nests are often unearthed from behind kitchen appliances and behind your refrigerator, areas that are out-of-sight and cozy.
Construct Nest and Establish Shelter
Mice can find warmth by constructing a nest within the recesses of your walls, beneath floorboards, around your hot water tank, or even in your attic. Paper materials are their preferred choice for nest building, sources ranging from newspapers, magazines, toilet paper, to paper towels.
Forage for Nourishment
Mice typically forage your kitchen cabinets under the cover of night. Although cheese is their go-to, they are not picky eaters and will settle for chocolate or peanut butter. Some even demonstrate a preference for specific types of potato chips. Mice can meet their daily hydration needs from the moisture contained within their food.
Ensuring Your Property is Mouse-Proof
An effective strategy against these little invaders is to render your property unfavorable for them. Here are some useful tips to discourage mice from choosing your property as their dwelling:
Defensive Strategies
- Doors – Affix brush strips to the base of doors, particularly important in older properties where the door might not be a perfect fit.
- Eaves – Amend any roofing damage and use wire mesh to block openings.
- Food Storage – Retain food in plastic or metal containers. Regularly tidy up under stoves, fridges, and cupboards.
- Holes – External walls often accommodate cables and pipes. Seal any outdated pipe openings. Mice can gain entry through holes larger than 5mm, as their jaws can negotiate these tight spaces and expand the openings.
- Lawns – Maintain your lawn by keeping the grass trimmed to reduce shelter and seeds for food. If feasible, leave some space between the building foundations and the garden.
- Pipes – Block openings around existing or new pipes with a coarse grade steel wire and caulking.
- Vegetation – Trim back tree branches from the house and, if possible, deter plants from growing up the sides of your property. Mice can use shrubs, vines, or overhanging branches to reach roofs. Dense vegetation near walls provides mice with potential nesting locations and shelter.
- Vents – Safeguard vents by using a fine galvanized wire mesh, particularly when there is existing damage.
On Demand Pest Control: Your Defender Against Mice!
If the thought of mice on your property sets off alarm bells, On Demand Pest Control’s professional deterrent strategies offer the most robust and reliable solution. For an active mouse infestation, we promise swift and effective service to safely evict the mice from your home or business premises.
Our team of experts, armed with years of internationally recognized knowledge and experience, stand ready to offer you professional advice and mouse control. As they live in the areas they serve, they are well-versed with the appropriate methodologies and procedures for both controlling and averting mouse problems.
Reach out to On Demand Pest Control at 954-947-0805 for more professional advice on mouse deterrence.
