Thoughts About Mouse Control

Mouse control is an issue that many households have to contend with at one time or another. As small as these animals are, they are shrewd and powerful in their tenacity.

They have the ability to adapt to a wide range of environments and foods. They are so tiny that they can squeeze their bodies into tight openings in the name of survival. It is said that they can even push their ½ ounce physiques through a pencil-sized opening. Even though humans might not want to live with mice, these animals are actually fairly iconic in our society. Here are some examples of good mice:

Mighty Mouse: A superhero from the late fifties and early sixties, “Mighty Mouse will save the day!” This was a refrain from the theme song of a popular cartoon television program that many baby boomers were raised watching on black and white screens.

Mickey: “Who’s the leader of the band? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!” My goodness, this one even had his own fan club, the Mousekateers, and a girlfriend named Minnie.

Jerry of the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon series: Jerry, the rodent, was the smart good guy while Jerry, the cat, was not quite as bright.

The computer clicker: It’s a similar shape and even has a long tail if it’s not wireless. Where would we be without our digital, high tech mice?

Unfortunately, there are also the not-so-welcome rodents who invade our homes and spread disease. These critters are not welcome on farms as they can destroy crops and ruin a potential harvest. Some common types are the white footed and the deer mouse.

Their droppings can contaminate stored foods and leave bacteria on countertops and surfaces of our kitchen. These rodent feces are known to cause food poisoning and salmonella, both of which are quite harmful to humans.

Mice are nocturnal so are mostly up and around during the night. They have excellent senses of smell, but dim eyesight. They are often eaten by larger animals including snakes, cats, foxes, dogs and certain types of birds.

These animals reproduce very rapidly as a single female may have as many as ten litters per year. One litter may contain five newborns in it, which means that one female mouse may add fifty more rodents to a household or farm annually.

In order to cut down on infestations inside a house, homeowners must be sure to seal all cracks leading to the inside. This is especially true in the winter when temps are chilly outside and warm inside. It’s also important to keep all food products stored in tightly sealed containers such as Tupperware. Having a pet such as a cat or dog in the house will certainly be a chemical free deterrent that keeps the rodent population in check without having to resort to chemical warfare. Traps, glue boards and poison are other tactics, which must sometimes be resorted to.

If a homeowner begins to notice telltale signs of mice coexisting in the home, it would be wise to seal all openings and eliminate all open containers of food. If these steps don’t work, it may be necessary to resort to one of the more aggressive tactics and call a mouse control service.