Mice are not Mickey Mouse,the friendly effigies of Walt Disney!
These small rodents can do enormous damage in a house or business without forgetting the food depots (warehouses, silos, bakeries…)
When you know that a mouse can generate 8 litters per year and give birth to 6 pups in each litter!
The calculation is quickly done: in 1 year, a mouse can have more than 48 mice that will in turn become potential moms in just a few weeks
The advice of our mouse exterminator: get rid of it as soon as possible
The damage of mice in a house
These rodents can cause severe damage:
- on equipment: walls, electrical cables, ceilings, gas pipes (watch out for fires)
- on food
- on linen and fabrics
- in the papers
- in foul smells
and more seriously, mice can cause health problems
What to do in case of mouse invasion?
There are a few very simple prevention rules to avoid attracting mice:
- don’t leave food dragged
- close the garbage cans tightly
- cellars and attics should be cleaned regularly
- every crack or hole has to be plugged
Mice like to play hide-and-seek and are very difficult to detect. We notice their presence thanks to the smell it gives (urine), the noise when they gnaw and their droppings scattered on their place of passage (between 3 to 8mm).
To get rid of mice, there are traps and tricks
The famous mousetraps or “mouse tapes” are sold in supermarkets. There is also a suitable product: rondoticide,commonly referred to as “rat death”. Beware, these products are toxic poisons so take precautions such as gloves and put them out of reach of people, children, pets and plants.
But the safest way is to go through a deratization company and a professional exterminator.
Before resorting to methods of extermination or control:
It is necessary to correctly identify your pest population. Noise inside the walls may be the result of a mouse infestation; however, insects and even the building itself can make similar noises and will require different solutions.
- All possible feed sites and entry points must be identified and eliminated.
- Human food sources must be stored in metal or glass containers with airtight lids.
- The bins should also be resilient and sealed.
- Countertops, sinks and kitchen floors must be kept clean and all possible entry points must be sealed.
- Cracks, holes and crevices must be sealed with steel or concrete.
Open areas around pipes, gas lines and dryer vents must also be sealed. Holes as small as pencil erasers can allow access and should not be overlooked.
An exterminator finds the sources
Home extermination techniques range from traps to bait. Ratchet traps can be dangerous to humans and pets if not placed properly.
Glue traps are also used to trap mice, but they must be placed correctly to be effective. Living traps force owners to get rid of captured rodents.
All traps require intimate knowledge of the mouse’s habits and behaviour to use them effectively.
Baits can also be used, but they carry an increased risk. Poor placement and use of bait can affect people, pets and wildlife. Owners would not be advised to start at home.
Infestations are not desirable
Mouse infestations are harmful and dangerous to humans.
Mice feed on human food sources and destroy cardboard, paper, boxes and plastic to build their nests.
Urine, saliva and feces in some mice may contain viruses and bacteria, such as salmonella and hantavirus.
It is therefore necessary to exterminate any mouse infestation. It is advisable to act at the first sign of mouse infestation.
Populations are growing rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate. It is best to target infestations when colonies are small.
The most effective methods of extermination of mice are those administered by pest control professionals. Contact your expert exterminator in Montreal to arrange an inspection and consultation.
Read on to complete this information
- How do mice enter homes
- Getting rid of mice that eat away at home
- How to trap mice
- The smoke test to detect rodents’ passages
- Determine the paths of mice through the smoke test
- How mouse traps work
- Electronic mouse traps
- How to get mice out of the walls of the house
- How to get rid of mice
- How to clean up after a mouse infestation
- Mouse Exterminator FAQs
A tip from Grandma: plants
It is said that mice do not like the smell of mint. Leaving pots of mint all over the rooms is therefore a great idea to keep them away. Other plants also have a repellent effect on mice such as lavender, chamomile, cloves or peppers.
