Why Can’t I Get These Mice Out Of My Houston Home?

If you have a persistent mouse problem, you’ve probably been trying every at-home solution money can buy. Unfortunately, house mice are clever, persistent pests that don’t respond well to DIY treatment methods. House mice are one of the most common home-invading pests, and sometimes this can make them seem like less of a threat. While house mice aren’t as dangerous as other kinds of mice, the diseases mice carry are still a threat to the residents of your household. Read on to learn more about how to identify a house mouse, what is attracting them to your home, and the best prevention and extermination methods.

What’s The Difference Between Mice & Rats?

Some have a hard time telling the difference between mice and rats. As a general rule, rats are darker colored and much larger than mice. Rats also tend to be much more dangerous in terms of diseases and aggression. While house mice are larger than many other species, they are still much smaller than rats. They may not be as extreme as rats, but a mouse problem is still a major problem to have.

The house mouse is dusty gray with a cream-colored belly. It has a round body with big, round ears and eyes. Its tail is about as long or longer than its body and is soft and pink. Their bodies can be up to 3¾ inches long, and their tails can grow to be around four inches long. They tend to prefer cereal and seeds, but they will also eat insects, nuts, fruits, and grain-based products. They may be even less picky if they live inside full-time. House mice are social creatures. They live in fairly large networks dominated by a single male that outranks other males and breeding females.

House mice may look cute, but they are too dangerous to keep around. As chewers, not only can they do damage to wood and load-bearing timbers, they can chew through electrical wires and put your home at risk of fire. The diseases mice carry include salmonella and rat-bite fever. They can also worsen asthma and allergies (especially in children) and bring disease-carrying mites, lice, ticks, and fleas into the home.

What Attracts Mice?

Mice are attracted to structures for the same reason as all home-invading pests: proximity to food, water, and shelter. More specifically, mice make their homes in wall cavities, cabinets, and storage areas like attics and basements. If sanitation is an issue anywhere in the house, this is a major risk in terms of attracting pests. Limiting their access to these essential items on their shelter checklist is the first step to preventing mice. The best pest control for mice is always going to be prevention.

How To Prevent Mice

Practicing the best pest control prevention always starts with sanitation and home maintenance. To keep mice from finding your home a paradise too good to abandon, try these methods:

• Store food in glass or metal containers and clean spills immediately.
• Store indoor and outdoor trash in sealed containers. Clean the bins regularly and keep outdoor trash far away from the house.
• Seal off any cracks or crevices around the exterior of the home with silicone-based caulk or steel wool. Anything as small as a dime is big enough for a mouse to fit through.
• Keep your yard trimmed, hedges and potted plants away from the windows, and tree limbs cut back from the roof.
• Store woodpiles and other yard decorations far away from the home.
• Keep window and door screens well-maintained, and make sure doors and windows can seal properly.
• Vacuum and clean surfaces regularly.
• De-clutter. If you must have stored boxes, make them sealed plastic and clean anything that’s come in contact with food before storing it.

No matter how yard you try, sometimes prevention isn’t enough. If you’re not sure how the mice are getting in and need the help of pest control professionals, the fastest way to get rid of mice is to call All-Safe Pest & Termite.

How To Get Rid Of Mice

The fastest way to get rid of mice is to call the All-Safe Pest & Termite at the first sign of an infestation. Relying on your own methods is never the best way to get rid of mice. Not only can DIY methods put you at risk of contracting diseases, but they can also harm the members of your household with dangerous poisons. The best way to get rid of mice will always be entrusting the task to the professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite. For safe, fast, and effective pest control in the Houston area, call us today for your free, no-obligation estimate.