What is your favorite thing to do on a snowy winter day? Curl up in front of the fireplace with a cozy blanket wrapped around you? Perhaps, have some hot cocoa to warm you from the inside out? Maybe you enjoy bundling up and taking walks outside in the brisk white weather. Whatever it is you enjoy doing in winter, it can be assumed that staying warm is involved. Mice feel the same way. When temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, mice here in Vail look for any way possible to get in out of the cold. If your home presents itself as a good option for shelter, you could find yourself sharing a living space with mice this winter.
How To Identify Mice
There are many different species of mice here in Vail, but all share the same basic features. All mice have pointed snouts, small rounded ears, and scaly tails the length of their bodies. Mice also can come in a variety of colors ranging from brown, silver, gray, or black.
Why Mice Like Your Home
Mice only need 4 things to survive, food, water, shelter, and warmth. What you may not know is that most homes are their best option to easily find these 4 things. Because of our own needs, we stock our homes with tasty foods mice can eat. We even throw away leftovers for mice to find in the trash. When in our homes, mice don’t have to worry about finding ways to stay warm, our thermostats are always set to temperatures that are comfortable for them. As for water, all a mouse needs is a leaky faucet, pipe, or roof to sustain itself. Mice only need a small amount of water to survive. Finally, there is shelter. Most homes come with wall and ceiling voids and materials such as clothing and insulation to make a comfy nest.
Can house mice survive outside your home? Yes, but they would much rather thrive inside.
Problems Mice Cause
It can be hard to imagine that a creature as tiny and cute as a little mouse could be as problematic as it is. The truth is, mice are some of the most destructive and dangerous pests out there. Known for carrying and transporting sickness, mice can put your family at risk just by being around. They can chew into and contaminate boxes of food and leave their potentially disease-ridden fecal matter and urine in places you often interact with. Mice can also be hosts to other dangerous pests such as fleas and ticks. If you own pets, they could be at risk themselves as it is common for fleas and ticks to transfer off of mice and onto our furry friends. Finally, mice are destructive. Armed with strong, sharp teeth, mice have been known to chew through many things they shouldn’t. You have probably heard of mice chewing holes through walls, but did you know that they can also bite through electrical wiring and utility piping? This can create a fire hazard or potential water damage within the walls of your home. We don’t have to explain to you why this is bad.
Our Top 8 Suggestions To Keeping Mice Away
- Keep your yard clutter-free and trim back bushes and tree branches away from the walls of your home.
- Make sure your gutters are in good working order and that your home is leak-free.
- If you do not already have trashcans with tight-fitting lids, invest in some that do.
- Seal up openings in the foundation of your home using wire mesh and a caulking gun.
- Pick up and clean out pet food and water bowls before going to bed.
- Store leftover food inside plastic containers.
- Clean regularly, picking up messes and spills as they happen.
- Repackage food that comes in cardboard boxes or plastic bags into larger thick plastic or metal containers.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Mice?
The above steps will help to keep mice away but they are not a perfect solution. If mice have already gotten into your home, you need professional rodent control. Although it is true that traps can cull populations, and may solve your problem if only one or two mice are present in your home, we recommend playing it safe when it comes to mice. The longer they are in your home, the more opportunities they will have to cause the problems we talked about earlier.
If you are ready to get mice out of your home, give us a call here at RAM Pest Control. And while we have you on the phone, ask your friendly service technician about our rodent exclusion services.
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