If you were to see a mouse running along the floorboards of your home or scurrying through your garage, you might be caught off guard. Some people find these rodents a bit terrifying, while others think they’re really cute. Regardless of how you feel about them, mice aren’t safe to have around your Lakewood home as they are known to cause property damage and pose health risks.
It can be easy to think that mice aren’t a big problem as they are furry creatures with large eyes and big ears. They are only about five inches in length and have long, thin tails, and up close, they can look adorable. However, don’t let their appearance or their size fool you. Mice are one of the most problematic pests in the area, and they aren’t just a nuisance.
Over hundreds of years, mice have become dependent on humans for their own survival. They invade our homes and businesses in rural, suburban, and urban areas, and they use our buildings for shelter and access to the food and water they need. This dependent relationship means mice are adapted to living alongside us, and they aren’t easy to keep out because of this.
What Dangers Do House Mice Pose?
The biggest concern with house mice is that they are carriers of disease. They can bring with them pathogens that lead to salmonellosis, hantavirus, rat-bite fever, and more. They also often have parasites like ticks and fleas, and these parasites can bring other illnesses such as Lyme disease or the Bubonic plague. Also, the build-up of fur, urine, and feces that mice bring with them can cause respiratory problems of varying degrees.
Then, there is the damage that mice can cause. They have to chew through things all of the time to keep their teeth from getting too long, and they have strong teeth that can gnaw through plastic, furniture, drywall, wires, pipes, and more. This ability also makes mice difficult to keep out.
Lastly, mice are hard to control. They reproduce at a rapid rate, and they can hide and fit through many small spaces. In fact, even an adult mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime.
Five Mouse Prevention Tips
Because mice can chew through so many materials and squeeze through small openings, completely deterring them can pose some significant challenges. But, there are still things you can do. Many of these steps involve making your property less attractive to mice overall.
Here is where to start:
- Seal up holes in the wall and foundation with steel wool. Then, cover vents and chimney openings with wire mesh.
- If you don’t already, get lids for all garbage cans that mice can’t get inside.
- When food or drink spills happen, clean them up right away as mice can survive on even small crumbs.
- Reduce excess moisture around the property by using dehumidifiers or repairing leaky plumbing.
- Reach out for mouse control assistance from experts in the area.
How To Effectively Remove Rodents From Your Lakewood Home
Instead of dealing with mice on your own, let the experts at Bugaboo Pest Control assist you. These rodents are dangerous, and they are tricky to eradicate. Most products meant to remove them, such as baits and traps, will only get some of the individuals, and the population will continue to grow.
But, with our residential pest control options, you can trust that mice will no longer be a problem around your property. Just give us a call today to get started.