Facts about the House Mouse and the Field Mouse?

Recognizing mouse infestations: first and foremost, seeing an actual mouse, dead or alive, is definite sign of a potential mice problem. Other common signs of mice infestations are feces droppings, fresh gnawing of fibrous materials and shredded paper for nest material. Nests are often found in sheltered locations from inside wall voids to the back of closets with considerable amount of items covering the floor to provide them a sheltered site.

The House mouse have a uniformly brown-grey coat color right down to the tip of their tail. They weigh around ½ to 1 ounce, and have small eyes.

The Field mouse, also called the Deer mouse, have a golden brown or reddish brown coat with white feet and chest. Their tail is bi-colored. They weigh around ½ to 1 ounce, and have big protruding eyes.

In a single year, a female may have 5 to 10 litters. Each litter produces usually 5 or 6 young. Born 19 to 21 days after mating, and they will mature in 6 to 10 weeks. The life span of a house mouse is about 9 to 12 months.

They have keen senses of taste, hearing, smell, and touch. They are excellent climbers and can run up any rough vertical surface. They can jump up to 13 inches from the floor onto a flat surface. They can run along or climb wire cables, rope, climbing vines, landscape bushes looking for openings to gain access to buildings.They can slip through a crack that a pencil will fit into, which is slightly larger than ¼ inch in diameter.

The house mouse needs to eat about 3 grams of food a day. They like to feed on cereal grains, but they will feed on many kinds of food. They eat often, nibbling bits of food here and there while continuing to explore looking for other food resources.

Sanitation: Mice can survive in small areas with limited amounts of food and shelter. So, no matter how good the sanitation, most buildings in which food is used, handled, or stored will eventually support mice if not mouse-proofed. Good sanitation will not eliminate a mouse infestation, but poor sanitation is sure to attract them and will permit them to thrive in greater numbers. Good sanitation by properly storing human and animal food will make traps more effective in eliminating an infestation.

Mouse-proof the building: The most successful and permanent form of mouse control is to “build them out” by eliminating all openings through which they can enter a structure. Inspect the building exterior and seal any openings larger than ¼ inch to keep mice outside. Seal cracks and openings in building foundations and openings in the exterior walls for pipes, vents, and utilities. Inspect the door sweeps on the bottom of exterior doors and garage doors to insure they are still in good condition and have no open areas allowing entry.

Call Trapper Joe's For Immediate Mice Removal Service

(219) 707-3666

Methods for mice removal

Traps: Trapping is a very effective control method. Trapping has several advantages. 1. It is quick and humane. 2. It permits the user to make sure the mouse has been killed. 3. Easy removal of the mouse carcass, thus avoiding the odor of the carcass rotting, especially if the mouse died within a wall void or underneath cabinets, etc., which may occur when poison baits are used. 4. No collateral problems such as dogs or cats eating poisoned mice and needing emergency medical attention.

Poison baits (Rodenticides): Rodenticides are poisons that can kill rodents. We receive many calls from customers that still have mice, weeks, after the setting of poison baits by other pest control companies or themselves. Our method requires more effort from us, but it is extremely effective, and does not have the collateral problems of poisoning pets or the stench of carcasses emanating from inaccessible locations.

*Remember rodent baits are poison. Be sure the product is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and always follow the label instructions exactly. If baits are used indoors, be sure they are labeled specifically for interior use.

Sound and Electronic Devices: Although, mice are easily frightened by strange or unfamiliar noises. There is little evidence from studies that sound of any type will drive established mice from buildings, because they quickly become accustomed to the sound.

For more information on mice and their diseases please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.