Mice Treatment

Mice

• The house mouse is considered one of the most troublesome pests in the US. House mice live & thrive under a variety of conditions in & around homes. House mice consume food meant for humans or pets. They contaminate food-preparation surfaces with their feces, which can contain the bacterium that causes food poisoning (salmonellosis). Their constant gnawing causes damage to structures & property.
• Droppings, fresh gnawing, & tracks indicate areas where mice are active. Mouse nests, made from finely shredded paper or other fibrous material, are often found in sheltered locations. House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence. Mice are occasionally seen during daylight hours. House mice are gray or brown with relatively large ears & small eyes. An adult weigh about 1/2 ounce and is about 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches long, including the 3 to 4-inch tail. House mice will eat many kinds of food.  Mice have keen senses of taste, hearing, smell, and touch. They are excellent climbers and can run up any rough vertical surface.
• In a single year, a female may have 5 to 10 litters of usually 5 or 6 young each. Mice may breed year-round, but when living outdoors, they breed mostly in Spring & Fall. They are mature in 6 to 10 weeks. Litters of 5 or 6 young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, although females that conceive while still nursing may have a slightly longer gestation period. Mice are born hairless & with their eyes closed. They grow rapidly, & after 2 weeks they are covered with hair & their eyes & ears are open. Mice are mature at 6 to 10 weeks. Their lifespan is about 9 to 12 months.
• They almost always cause some degree of economic damage if within a structure. In homes & commercial buildings, they may feed on various stored food items or pet foods. In addition, they usually contaminate foodstuffs with their urine, droppings, & hair. House mice cause structural damage to buildings by their gnawing & nest-building activities.  Urine, both wet & dry, will fluoresce under ultraviolet light, although so will some other materials. Urine stains may occur along travel ways or in feeding areas.
• Effective prevention & control of house mouse damage involve three aspects: rodent-proof construction, sanitation, & population reduction by means of traps both mechanical and baits. 
• Good sanitation will also reduce food & shelter for existing mice &, in turn, make baits & traps more effective.
• The most successful & permanent form of house mouse control is to "build them out" by eliminating openings through which they can enter a structure. All places where food is stored, processed, or used should be made mouse-proof. Dried grain & meat products should be stored in glass jars, metal canisters, or other resealable airtight containers.
• Trapping is an effective control method. It allows for disposal of the mouse carcasses, thereby avoiding dead mouse odors that may occur when poisoning is done within buildings.
• Mice constantly explore & learn about their environment, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles, food & water, shelter, & other elements in their domain.  Mice may reject baits simply because they do not taste as good as other available foods. Rodenticides are poisons that kill rodents. Remember that rodent baits are poisons. They should be replaced, refreshed, & maintained on a routine basis. A mouse will not go after rotten bait.
• Bait stations are useful because they: (1) Protect bait from moisture and dust. (2) Provide a protected place for rodents to feed, allowing them to feel more secure. This is an important since they like to spend time feeding inside such bait boxes. (3) Keep other animals (pets) & children away from hazardous bait. (4) Allow placement of bait in locations where it would otherwise be difficult because of weather or potential hazards to non-target animals. (5) Help prevent the accidental spilling of bait. (6) Allow easy inspection of bait to see if rodents are feeding on it.
• There is little evidence that sound of any type will drive established mice or rats from buildings because they rapidly become accustomed to the sound.
• Effective monitoring, maintenance, prevention, & control should be done by a professional pest control applicator. Mice infestation should not be taken lightly & should be evaluated frequently by the homeowner to prevent infestation.