The Secret To Getting Rid Of A Mouse Infestation In Your Redding Home

It can be stressful to deal with house mice, especially when the issue worsens and you don't know their entry point into your home. Mice are rodents that can spread diseases, attract other rodents, and create structural damage. House mice can also damage stored goods with their droppings and urine; this can happen as they leave debris of damaged materials where they nest. If you're dealing with this issue, read on to find effective solutions for mouse pest control in Redding. 

How To Tell If It's Mice In Your Home

You might never see a mouse in your house, even if they are already there. But as the mouse population grows, or when you have a gut feeling about their presence, it is easier to spot the signs of a mouse infestation. Here are some signs that mice are in your home:

• Mouse droppings: You may find small and dark feces from mice in house walls, ceilings, roof spaces, skirting boards, cupboards, and floors.
• Scratching sounds in ceilings and walls: Mice are usually quiet animals, but they tend to scratch the walls and ceilings, and this sound can be very unsettling to homeowners.
• Urine pillars: In case the mouse infestation is severe, dirt, grease, hair, and urine can combine to form small mounds of what are known as urine pillars. These mounds indicate that mice have been actively living in the area for a long time. 
• Mouse smells: Mouse urine smells like ammonia. When you notice a strong smell around the property, it can indicate a worse infestation.
• Damage to foodstuffs and furnishings: Mice can nibble into a cereal box or plastic container. They also chew through furnishings and furniture to access or gather materials for nests. 

Use these telltale signs to understand when it's time to hire an expert. Also, consider that mouse infestation can bring about many disease-related issues.

You Don't Have To Touch Mice For Them To Make You Sick

Mice can spread many diseases like salmonellosis, hantavirus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV). Contracting these illnesses is possible even without touching the mice. Mouse feces dry up after a while to become dust, making it easier to spread viruses like hantavirus through the air. You will experience chills, fever, pains, and aches with hantavirus. If the patient does not receive adequate care, it can lead to kidney failure. In another case, mice track and leave waste on countertops where we prepare food; this is how easy it is to get salmonellosis (food poisoning). Symptoms that follow will include fever, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Lastly, exposure to fresh droppings, saliva, and urine can cause a viral infection known as LCMV.

The Best Way To Get the Mice Out Of Your House For Good

Mice can comfortably make homes in the wild. But since we offer a conducive environment where they can easily find water, food, and shelter, they will invite themselves in. But how does one keep mice away from the house? 

The best way to prevent and reduce the chances of mice gaining access to your home is to eliminate the easy access points. Generally, if you see a crack that can fit a pencil, block it because mice can pass through it. Seal openings in walls and cracks in the foundation using steel wool and caulking; do not use rubber, plastic, wood, or anything that mice can chew. In addition, install weatherstripping for window and door gaps.

If prevention methods don't prove effective and you have a mouse infestation on your hands, the most effective way to manage it is with professional assistance. Professional mouse control services will eliminate an entire infestation and help ensure mice don't return. 

How To Prevent Future Mouse Infestations In Your Home

The best way to avoid having mice in the backyard or your house is to keep your home clean. But to get to the details, let's look at specific ways to ensure you are safe from a mouse infestation:

• Fill gaps around your property. Use caulk to seal any crevice or crack in your home while paying close attention to areas where utility pipes gain access to the property. Since mice and rats can get through spaces as small as a quarter or a dime, use pieces of steel wool to fill larger gaps because rodents can't gnaw through them. Also, do not forget to replace weatherstripping or loose mortar around the foundation and windows.
• Declutter your yard. Piles of leaves and mulch can harbor pests in your compound. Avoid storing several worn-out tires or junk because rats and mice can turn them into shelters.
• Keep bird feeders far from the house. Avoid using bird feeders if you are fighting a rodent infestation. Instead of feeding birds with food that is also attractive to rodents, use alternatives that work best for your case. Additionally, keep bird feeders far from the house and use guards that limit access of rodents to the feeders.
• Regularly mop the floors of your home. In case of any spills or crumbs falling on the floor, clean immediately. Although it may seem inconvenient, you may have to move around the large kitchen appliances to remove any debris that can gather behind them.

The most crucial part in determining if you have a mouse infestation is identifying the signs. If you take preventive steps to prevent mice but still see signs of mice in the yard or home, contact Jefferson Pest Control today.