Household mice are a shudder-worthy household pest that can make their way into your home and quickly take over. They’re smaller than other household rodents in East Stroudsburg, PA such as rats, but mice are a serious threat to the health and safety of your home.
Fall and winter are the most common times of the year for infestations because mice are seeking shelter from the impending cold weather and harsh winters that follow. Given food, water, and shelter, mice can live inside your home at any time of year. Mice carry diseases and can quickly make their way through your food, grass seed, cabinets, and even chew through insulation and electrical wiring. They’re fast reproducers, and a single litter could turn into a significant infestation of mice if not addressed immediately.
Why do I have mice in my home?
Mice are attracted to food and water in your home. If you leave even a single crumb of food on the floor or in a cabinet, mice can sniff it out. Mice are also attracted to leftover pet food, and even the birdseed you keep for your feeders.
Mice can get into your house through impossibly tiny openings as small as a nickel, leaving any crack a potential vulnerability. They’ll enter through vents and HVAC units, and quickly move into your cozy household.
If your neighbors have mice problems, you will likely have them as well since mice will travel long distances searching for food. Open land near your house, areas of unlandscaped brush, or other debris around your property can also harbor mice.
How can I tell if I have a mouse infestation?
Mice are nocturnal, so you may not see them, even if there is an infestation. However, they leave behind several clues of their activity.
- Holes in food containers, grass seed bags, or pet food bags (including outdoor birdseed).
- Scratching or scurrying sounds in the walls or ceiling.
- Signs of scratching, chew marks, or other marks in softwood, electrical wiring, or ductwork.
- Odd behaviors from household pets (intent listening, scratching at vents, barking, etc.). Pets are sensitive to sound and can often notice the signs before their humans do.
- Mice constantly eat while they move around at night throughout your house. Because their bodies are so small, they produce droppings everywhere they go. Mouse droppings look like dark brown grains of rice. Small pools of urine near droppings also indicate mouse activity.
How can I prevent mice from getting into my house?
There are several things that you can do on your own to prevent mouse infestations. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and around your property. Look for vulnerabilities and possible entry points.
- Seal off possible entryways, including small holes or cracks in the foundation of your home, gaps around doorways or windows, and other potential entry points.
- Cut back shrubs and remove brush that is close to the exterior of your home.
- Move food from penetrable containers like cereal boxes to heavy-duty glass or food-grade plastic containers with air tight seals. Do the same for containers with pet foods, birdseed, or grass seed.
- Place grates or mesh on vents, ducts, and HVAC components to cut down on entry points.
If you’ve completed these tasks and still see signs of mice, or if you see or suspect that the infestation is much larger than what you can handle on your own, a professional inspection is the next step.
How can Seitz Bros. get rid of the mice in my home?
The rodent experts at Seitz Bros. can assess the mouse infestation in your home and determine the next best steps to get rid of mice for good. We can identify key entry points you may not have seen and develop a long term, comprehensive plan to ensure mice won’t return.
Our Home Protection Plans provide full coverage for mice and other common household pests, all year-round. Monthly or quarterly service options are available based on your unique needs. Unlimited technician re-visits are available to ensure that your pest problem is under control. If you are looking for a short-term solution to an active mouse infestation in your home, the One-Time Mouse Elimination Plan may be the best option for you. This plan does not provide coverage for any additional pests. Rodent exclusion services are also available to permanently seal your home against further infestations.
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