One Mouse, Two Mice, Three Mice, Four
09/24/2019
How are you with math? Today, we're going to do a little mouse math. How does that sound? Great! Let's get to it....
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Mice are secretive critters. There are several reasons for this: They are mostly nocturnal and they spend their time searching for food while most of us are asleep. They travel through the voids of our homes where we can't see them. They are very small and easily missed as they scurry away into a dark recess. And the saying, "quiet as a mouse," hardly manages to describe how stealthy these critters really are. The problems they cause are also stealthy. That is what we're going to look at today.
Nocturnal Problems
The dark has a way of hiding things and darkness doesn't only happen at night. You have many spots in your house that are dark. In these places, you'll find some of the problem mice cause:
- Mice chew holes through sheetrock and baseboards to get into food-storage areas. These are usually low to the floor and in dark, hidden areas.
- Mice chew holes in stored boxes and furniture. If you think you have a mouse infestation, it is important to make sure your stored items are put in hard plastic totes to protect them.
- Mice urinate in many dark places. The backs of your cabinets and drawers, your shelves, the area under your fridge and other secretive places can accumulate urine and begin to have a noticeable and unpleasant smell.
Problems in Wall Voids
Mice prefer to travel through your home by way of your wall voids. It makes them feel safe. In your voids, they don't have to worry about birds sweeping down to snatch them up and eat them. But, while they're in there, they can cause some problems:
- Mice chew on fiberglass insulation and use the materials to build their nests. They also chew tunnels through foam insulation.
- Mice chew through wood studs to gain access to new locations.
- Mice chew on wires and this can lead to a house fire.
Smaller Than a Mouse
The small size of a mouse can work to its advantage when it wants to avoid detection but imagine an organism so small that you can't even see it. Here are some problems that you won't see, even if you're looking directly at them.
- Bacteria — There are several bacteria that are a significant problem for homeowners. You may know some of them, such as E. coli and Salmonella. They are invisible to the eye but capable of making you very sick.
- Human Pathogens — When mice leave waste in your ventilation ducts or you go into a close space where mice have been defecating, you can be exposed to invisible airborne spores that cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Always wear a mask when removing mouse nests from attic spaces.
Quiet as a Parasite
This should be a saying. Mice can't compete with parasites when it comes to being quiet. If a mouse brings ticks, fleas, lice, mites, or parasitic worms into your home, you're not going to hear them, but you'll know you have them.
- Ticks — These bugs need no introduction. They have earned quite a reputation for the spread of Lyme disease and Lyme is only one of several dangerous diseases they can spread.
- Fleas — These insects affect dogs, cats, and humans. Their bites can cause significant irritation, and fleas are linked to several diseases.
- Lice — While these parasites won't make you sick, they can certainly ruin your day and make life uncomfortable.
- Mites — There are many species of mite. Some are mildly intrusive and others are extremely intrusive. If mice bring bad mites into your home, it can lead to severe skin-related illness.
- Parasitic Worms — When mice crawl around in dumpsters and other dirty places, they can pick up parasitic worms and deposit them in your foods when they get into food packages. If you eat food tainted by parasitic worms it can lead to severe intestinal illness.
Mouse Control
When mice get into Maryland homes, they can cause many unseen problems, but just because you can't see the problems they're causing doesn't mean those problems won't affect you. Mice spread illness, damage building materials, create holes for pests to use to get into your home, make pathways for rainwater to cause damage, damage your belongings, and more. Keep those mice out with a residential pest control program that includes state-of-the-art rodent surveillance and removal, like Preferred Care pest control from American Pest. With Preferred Care, you'll have ongoing exterior rodent prevention and complete coverage for over 30 common Maryland pests. Reach out to us today to get started.
