Mice and other critters don’t understand the difference between human and animal habitats; they just want somewhere safe and warm to live and raise their young. However, their presence in your home creates a variety of issues, which is why wildlife control is essential, especially during the winter. If rodents infest your home, you should seek mice removal services immediately. Otherwise, you may have bigger and more expensive problems down the line.

How Do Mice Get Inside?

Mice seek warmth and readily available food, which humans, unfortunately, provide. The risk of an infestation may rise during cold months when these necessities are in short supply, pushing rodents to leave their natural habitats to survive.

Why Is Rodent Control Important?

Rodents of any kind can carry diseases. These illnesses spread through urine, bites and feces, which is why you should never touch a mouse or handle its waste. Unfortunately, these diseases can also become airborne.

For example, mice may use ductwork for nesting or as a network to move throughout your residence. This increases the risk of airborne diseases, as your HVAC system can spread microscopic particles. Changing your air filters regularly provides a level of protection, but the only way to eliminate the risk is to remove the mice.

Nests can also clog ductwork, lowering the efficiency of your heating system. In the worst cases, they can block fresh air from getting in, reducing your home’s air quality and trapping smells inside.

The dangers don’t stop there — mice’s propensity for chewing can also cause problems. Rodents such as mice, rats and squirrels have constantly growing incisors. To wear them down, they chew on whatever they can get their paws on. In many cases, that means your home’s internal wood structures, but their strong teeth can penetrate a variety of materials:

• Plastic
• Aluminum
• Lead
• Copper

When mice chew through electrical cords, there’s an increased fire risk. Since the wires are inside the walls, you can’t see the danger until it’s too late.

How Can You Prevent an Infestation?

Since removing mice may involve cutting into drywall and other inconveniences, the best approach is to prevent an infestation in the first place. For example, you can significantly reduce the risk by trimming trees, shrubs and grass. Branches that overhang your roof are the perfect bridges for mice, which can then chew their way into your attic. Shrubs offer protection from predators, such as hawks and owls, attracting small rodents. If you can, keep bushes and trees away from house walls or lay down gravel to create an open space between the lawn and your residence.

Another essential step is to keep up with structural maintenance. Gaps in siding, cracks in the foundation and holes in the eaves are the perfect entrances for mice. These rodents can compress into spaces as small as a quarter-inch in diameter, so even tiny holes increase your risk of an infestation.

Finally, store food where it won’t tempt wildlife. Get garbage cans with locking lids or place them in fenced enclosures to keep critters away. The same goes for compost, which can attract mice due to its strong smell. If you keep pet food outside, move it indoors to prevent wildlife from interpreting it as a reliable food source.

Why Call Professionals for Mice Removal?

The experts at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control take a humane approach to mice removal, avoiding harm to critters and humans alike. We remove not only the mice themselves but their droppings and nests, ensuring nothing dangerous is left behind. To schedule an appointment for wildlife control in Ottawa, submit our convenient online form or talk to a friendly representative by phone.