Having mice living in your home is unsanitary because rodents are notorious for carrying contagious diseases. A single female mouse can reproduce several times each year and give birth h to up to 12 kits at a time, so you can quickly end up with an out-of-control infestation if you don’t take quick action to get rid of rodents you find in your house. Partnering with a pest control company like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is the best way to get rid of mice, but here are a few things you can do to deter them.
Keep your Home Clean
Rodents are attracted to clutter. Cluttered rooms give mice plenty of places to build nests where they are less likely to be disturbed by humans. Clutter also provides rodents with numerous materials they can use to make nests such as carpet fibres and string. If you want to keep mice out of your home, keep your space neat and organized with very few boxes. By giving rodents fewer places to nest, you make your home a less hospitable environment and make it less likely that mice will move in.
Seal Food Properly
Mice are always on the lookout for easy sources of food. They have a varied diet and will eat anything from insects to human crumbs and scraps they find in your kitchen. One major attractant for mice is open food in your pantry or cabinet. They will claw their way into boxes that aren’t sealed properly, so the best way to keep mice away from your food supply is to keep food in airtight containers.
You should also be careful to clean up any crumbs or spills in your kitchen as soon as they happen. If you leave food messes to clean up later, you have a greater chance of attracting rodents to your home, and once they find an easy source of food, they are less likely to leave willingly. You could end up with a full-blown infestation before you even realize you have a single mouse living in your home, so it’s best to take measures to prevent them from taking up residence in the first place.
Close Entry Points
Mice most often enter homes through small cracks in the exterior of your house. Unfortunately, mice have an incredible ability to squeeze through tiny crevices and can fit through holes the size of a dime in diameter. Because of this, it’s important to examine the exterior of your house on a regular basis and board up any crevices you find. Do an examination on your own several times a year and close up any holes you find, but you should also consider calling a pest control company like Skedaddle to get an expert opinion on potential points of entry for mice so you can board them up before rodents take advantage and enter your home.
Get Rid of Water Sources
Just like any other animal, mice need water to survive. Living near lakes, ponds and streams in the wild offers them plenty of access to liquid, and when they live inside, they must seek out the water from pet bowls, sinks, toilets and leaking water pipes. You can minimize the risk of mice moving into your home by putting away water-filled pet bowls and keeping sinks and toilets covered when not used.
Find Help With Mice Removal in York
If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I have mice in the summer”, the answer is that the rodents seek shelter from the scorching temperatures by nesting inside houses. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is ready to help you get rid of mice infestations, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.