Local Exterminator
Are Mice Invading Your Home Or Business?
Eliana D.

 

As the fall season comes and the cooler weather settles in, mice start to find their way into our home or business. Seeking warmth these pests can cause more harm than you may think. Since they often carry diseases and contaminate food, mice are unwelcome pests that can pose a health hazard. In the state of Georgia, the house mouse and the deer mouse are the two most common types of mice. Here Local Exterminator discusses ways to identify and control mice that may want to enter your home or business.

 

Identifying Mice In Your Area

At first glance, house and deer mice look very similar, but there are some key differences to know when you are trying to identify them.

House Mouse

  • Light brown or gray
  • Average size is 2.5 to 3.2 inches long.
  • Their coats are typically a single solid color.
  • They have small, beady eyes and large ears.
  • They have a very good sense of smell.
  • They have hair on their tails.

Deer Mouse

  • Deer mice are slightly larger than house mice.
  • Average size between 3 to 4 inches long but no more than 7 inches.
  • They are dark on top and light along their bellies.
  • They do not have hair on their tails.
  • This type of mouse hoards stolen crumbs and seeds near its nest instead of eating its food right away.
  • They are nocturnal, so you’ll likely only see them scurrying around at night.

Dangers & Diseases

While both species of mice can cause damage to your home’s foundation, electrical wiring, and drywall, both can present their own additional challenges. For example, both house and deer mice can chew furniture and electrical wires in your home. Damaged wires can potentially lead to house fires. House mice are riddled with disease and can bring in even more infestations to your home. They are most known for carrying salmonella, a potentially life-threatening disease if not treated correctly. House mice also can bring lice and fleas into your home, causing a new set of problems to handle for you and your pets.

 

Arguably, deer mice carry more harmful diseases than house mice. They can carry and transmit  Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome , which can be fatal if contracted. Humans can catch this disease if they inhale urine or feces from an infected deer mouse. They can also carry  Lyme disease , which is an autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. With this mouse, you don’t have to come into direct contact with them, you could get sick simply from touching their saliva or waste.

 

 

Mice Prevention

  • Seal Entrance Points – Mice are sly little creatures that can fit through the tiniest places. So, make sure to seal any holes that could act as entrances into your house that they could climb through. Deer mice are exceptional climbers, so make sure to look in places higher up, too.
  • Clean Up – Food, dirty clothes, and piles of paper attract rodents. The best way to prevent them from entering is to keep your place as clean as possible.
    • Don’t leave food out on the counters and pick up crumbs
    • Don’t leave clothes in a pile on the floor
    • Throw out piles of paper
    • Keep things tidied up
    • Avoid clutter around the house and garage
    • Throw out trash
  • Get A Pet – One of the most effective methods to prevent rodents is to get a pet. Not only are they lovable and cuddly, but they can scare off any potential threat to your home or business.

 

Local Exterminator has been providing rodent control in the metro Atlanta area for over two decades. We have the skills, experience, knowledge, and equipment needed to remove all critters from your home so that you and your family can rest easy.

 

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