Mice have been causing homeowners trouble for centuries. Even with all of our advancements in home-building technology, these pests are still finding ways to get indoors and cause problems. We are here today to help you understand why your Virginia Beach home keeps having trouble with these pests. Here are some things you should know.
The Reasons Mice Invade Homes
Mice prefer living indoors. This is because our living areas provide them with food to eat, places to hide, and water to drink. The only problem mice have with taking shelter indoors is that there are people around. To avoid interacting with homeowners, mice typically will only come out at night when everyone is asleep. This allows them to steal food and beverages without being noticed. As for where mice hide during the day, these pests tend to take shelter inside wall voids and in other secluded areas like basements, crawlspaces, and storage rooms. If you have noticed damage to newspapers, books, fabrics, or your home’s insulation, there is a good chance these pests are sheltering nearby.
How Mice Find Their Way Indoors
There are two main ways mice find their way into area homes. The first is by sneaking in through gaps, cracks, and other openings. They find these entry points in foundational blocks, through window/door screens, under unprotected doors, and through utility piping and/or ventilation shafts. The second way mice find their way inside is by chewing on holes, gaps, and cracks that are too small to fit through. If you didn’t know, mice have strong sharp incisor teeth that they use to break down materials like plastic, vinyl siding, and wood.
Some Problems Mice Cause
When mice get indoors, they cause problems quickly. These pests will eat just about anything and are known for picking up and spreading dangerous disease-causing organisms because of their poor dietary and other life choices. Mice also cause extensive damage indoors with their constant chewing. Finally, mice regularly carry other pests (like fleas and ticks) indoors. These parasitic blood-feeders spread diseases like murine typhus, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
What Strategies Work To Keep Mice Out?
If you are here today seeking options to keep mice out of your home, we recommend starting with DIY mouse prevention. Here are some of the best tips and tricks our experts recommend you use today.
- Remove stick piles, leaves, and other clutter from your yard.
- Trim your grass regularly and keep up with your landscaping.
- Seal your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun or some liquid cement.
- Address damage to your home’s window/door screens and door sweeps.
- Keep unscreened doors and windows closed when they are not in use.
- Thoroughly clean your living areas and do your best to keep them tidy.
- Eliminate sources of moisture build-up.
- Repair damage to leaky piping and fixtures.
- Store leftover food, pantry items, and pet food inside air-tight containers.
When You Should Call A Professional About Your Mice Problems
Trying to remove a mouse infestation on your own is likely to cause you more stress than it is worth. To make your life easier, let our team help you out. At PESTOUT, we offer detailed home rodent control measures to identify, eliminate, and control these pests around Virginia Beach homes and properties. If you would allow us, we will inspect your living areas for these pests, let you know if mice have made their way indoors, and recommend some service options to eliminate and keep out these invasive creatures.
Call today to learn more about our comprehensive rodent control and get a quote for your Virginia Beach home.