Learn More About House Mice

The house mouse is cute and appears to be cuddly, but it can wreak havoc on your home. Where you see one of these little intruders, you are likely to have many more. The complete guide to house mice will help you better understand the threat of house mice.

What Do House Mice Look Like?

The house mouse has short, light-colored hair. The hair is usually a light brown color, but it can also be grey. House mice have light-colored bellies, short ears, and big feet. Adult house mice grow to only about 20 cm from their nose to the tip of their tail.

Where Do House Mice Nest?

House mice love to raise their families inside your home. The name gives them away. The house mouse is also found in sheltered outdoor areas such as grassy fields, unkempt yards, wooded areas, and farms. These areas provide these mice with shelter from predators and the elements, as well as access to a reliable food source.

Your home has all these things, too. House mice are curious by nature, so they will seek out your home to see what it has to offer. Your house can also provide these rodents with small hiding places, nesting materials, and an endless amount of food. House mice will nest inside walls, attics, and other small openings throughout your home.

What Do House Mice Eat?

House mice are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever you are offering. House mice will eat crumbs on the floor, they will get into open containers and bags, they will munch on your pet’s food, and they will rummage through your containers of bird food to find a meal.

Are House Mice Dangerous?

House mice don’t typically bite, but they can spread dangerous diseases and make you and your family ill. House mice leave droppings throughout your home. When mouse feces is disturbed, it releases harmful irritants and contaminants into the air. Mouse feces has been linked to Hantavirus and respiratory concerns. House mice also spread listeria, salmonella, rat-bite fever, and the bubonic plague. If you or your loved one encounter urine from house mice, it can trigger a dangerous allergic reaction. Mites and fleas can also enter your home on the back of a mouse.

What Will House Mice Do To My Home?

The question is: what won’t they do. House mice are superior jumpers, climbers, and swimmers. There is no end to the ways they can gain access to your home and find food once they enter. Mice can enter your home in openings as small as a dime, which is why it is important to seal all potential access areas. Once these mice find their way inside, they can spread disease, infect your food, gnaw on structures and wiring, and nest inside your walls and pipes. Not only can house mice make you and your family become sick, but they can also cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home or structure.

Can Innovative Pest Control Get Rid Of House Mice?

Innovative Pest Control has effective control services for house mice in East Texas. House mice must be prevented with exclusion techniques to prevent them from gaining access into your home in the first place. If they do get in, the professionals at Innovative Pest Control identify the signs of mice, locate the nests, and get rid of them for good. They are difficult to control on your home because they are excellent hiders, inexhaustible breeders, and dangerous disease carriers. The Innovative Pest Control rodent control program also takes steps to control mice all year-round so you don’t have to worry.

House Mouse Prevention Tips

• Get a cat or two for your home to catch any mice that find their way in.
• If you are a dog person, consider getting a terrier.
• Keep food stored in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.
• Vacuum and sweep your floors often.
• Inspect the exterior of your home for cracks, holes, and crevices, and seal them.
• Remove debris from the outside of your home.
• Keep your lawn trimmed and take measures to reduce weeds.
• Remove areas of clutter in your home and around your yard.
• Avoid leaving food or garbage out all day.
• Make sure your garbage cans have securing lids.
• Pick up pet food bowls after your pets have finished eating.
• At the first sight of house mice, call the pest control professionals at IPC and schedule an inspection!