ALL ABOUT MICE
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Learn about mice
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Unless you’re Cinderella in need of a last-minute ballgown, you probably don’t want mice in your home. These pests like to live in your walls and crawl spaces and gnaw on your house’s wood and your personal belongings. Plus, mice are carriers of germs and bacteria that they can spread to people. Learn more below about different types of mice, how they get into your house, and how you can get rid of them.
What is common mice behavior?
Mice are social animals that love interacting with other mice, often grooming each other if they’re not fighting or showing dominance. They breed very fast, some mice can have up to as many as 6-10 litters per year.
In the context of your home, it’s important to note that mice can squeeze through tiny openings that are as small as a dime. They like to live in crevices in walls or floorboards, under cabinets, or in attic rafters—any place where they can then access the structural components of your ceiling or walls and utilize a larger living space that is undisturbed by humans. In the wild, mice like to burrow or build nests on the ground. Mice tend to stay put in any of these locations as long as they have a steady, accessible food source.
How long do mice live?
In the wild, mice can live up to a year if they consistently find the right nutrition to survive. In a protected environment like your house, their lifespan can double.
What do mice eat?
Mice will eat basically anything! In your home, mice are specifically attracted to leftover human food, crumbs, dead insects, and any unattended pet food. They naturally prefer nuts, seeds, berries, plants, flowers, fungus, and sometimes animal parts, as well.
What different types of mice live in the U.S.?
While there are many species of mice in the U.S. the most common species you would see in your home is the house mouse.
House mice
As the name suggests, these mice are most commonly found in your home. They are often dark brown or gray in color, hence their name, and very small in size. They are often seen at night and love to eat crumbs and any other leftover human food.
House mice can spread disease as well as fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. They can also contaminate your food if they get into it.
Signs of a mice infestation in your home
Since mice love to chew, eat, and defecate all over your home, tracking the signs of a mice infestation is relativelyeasy. Keep an eye out for:
- Tiny droppings
- Chewed up wood and other structural materials
- Torn and scattered nesting materials (like soft fabrics and scraps)
- Unpleasant smells coming from unknown locations
- The sound of skittering feet climbing and scratching inside your walls at night
What does mice poop look like?
Mice poop is usually the size of a grain of rice. Color may vary from brown to gray, depending on the diet of the particular mice in question. You may notice mice poop in groups, as mice can produce as much as 50–75 droppings in a day.
How do mice get in your house?
Beyond squeezing through tiny cracks and openings in damaged wood, most mice can also skitter across wires and swim through your sewage pipes. Smaller species of mice can fit through any type of opening, even ones as small as a dime. Check the exterior of your home for any types of holes or cracks and seal them up swiftly to prevent any intruders.
How do I get rid of mice?
There are actually plenty of easy remedies you can try to get rid of a mice infestation before calling professional pest services like Hawx.
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, you can consider:
- Setting humane catch-and-release traps
- Stuffing holes and gaps in your structure with steel wool, duct tape, or other materials mice can’t chew through
While these methods can offer some help, they may not be enough to get rid of an infestation on their own. Try a few of the methods together to see if that makes a difference.
How can Hawx help get rid of mice?
If the natural methods above aren’t working, a professional pest treatment may be necessary for your home. Hawx can fill minor holes in or around your house to make sure mice can’t enter. Hawx also sets traps to catch mice before they can inflict more damage to your home. A thorough treatment plan can effectively target any mice nests that are set up in your home.
We can handle all types of mice problems, including:
- House mice
- Western harvest mice
- Deer mice
- White-footed mice
Get $150 Off Mice Service
If you have a mice problem, Hawx Pest Control is here to help. Contact us today.
