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How To Get Rid Of Mice and Other FAQ’s About Rodent Control

What is the smallest opening a mouse or rat needs to get into your home?

A mouse can fit in a quarter inch hole, which is smaller than a dime.  Rats, which are typically much larger than mice, can fit through a hole the size of a quarter.  A great first step, when you are trying to figure out how to get rid of mice in your home, is to identify potential points of entry around your home.  If you are having trouble locating points of entry, it may be time to call an exterminator for mice and rats.

How to get rid of mice and prevent them from getting inside your home again?

Both simple and inexpensive, the answer is hardware cloth.  Hardware cloth is excellent for rodent prevention.  Make sure all attic, roof &  other vents have hardware cloth(1/4 inch mesh) covering them.  Rodent prevention is a lot less costly than calling an exterminator for rodents or purchasing rodent control products and rodent poison.

How To Get Rid of Mice:  Why is cheese not the best bait for mice?  

Rodents, especially mice, have a much great sense of smell than humans.  Mice can sometimes detect a very pungent smell in cheeses.   Rather than enticing them, cheese can actually repel a mouse from your traps.  Better options for rodent and mouse bait for traps include chocolate, marshmallows, peanut butter, and high protein foods such as bacon.

Keep in mind, rodent control products such as glue traps usually already contain attractants.

What are the most common diseases carried by rodents?

Hantavirus:  One of the most common diseases transmitted by rodents is Hantavirus.  The deer mouse is the primary rodent vector for Hantavirus.  Rodent infestation in and around the home is the primary risk factor for Hantavirus.

LCM:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a rodent borne viral infection.  The primary host of LCM is house mice.  Approximately 5 percent of house mice in the US carry and transmit LCM.

Plague:  The most common transmission methods of the plague to humans is being bitten by an infected rodent flea or handling an infected rodent.  Different types of plagues include Bubonic, Septicemic and Pneumonic.

Tularemia:  Tularemia is most commonly transmitted to humans during a tick or deer fly bite.  Large numbers of rodents may die during an outbreak of Tularemia.

How do I know if I have mice or rats? 

Comparing rodent dropping/feces shape and size can be an easy way to distinguish whether you have mice or rats.  Rat droppings are much larger and fatter, with rounded ends.  Mouse droppings are smaller than a grain of rice with pointed ends.

How serious is my rodent infestation?

A common myth is that seeing rodents during daytime is an indicator of a more serious infestation.  Mice and rats only sleep for short periods of time and may forage more frequently at nighttime.

If a mouse or rat eats poison inside the home will it always go outside to die?  

The use of rodent poisons inside of the home present a number of risks, not the least of which is accidental poisoning.  Tempted to use rat poison inside of your home?  A commonly held misconception is that rodents will exit homes or buildings after ingesting bait in search of water.  This is a myth!  It only takes one dead and decomposing rodent in the wall or attic for a homeowner to decide rat poison is not the way to go.  Glue boards are excellent rodent control devices that are poison-free.  Additionally, they make removal of rodents from the home very easy!

How do I know when all of the rodents are gone?

Tip:  Place a small pile of raw sunflower seeds in the room with the most rodent activity.  If not scattered in a couple of days, you’re rodent infestation may be solved!

How To Get Rid of Mice:  What rat poisons are safe to use around pets?  

The simple answer is none.  Any type of rat poison has the potential to cause harm to humans, pets, and other wildlife.

Should I be concerned with secondary poisoning from rat poison?  

An example of secondary poisoning is when an animal eats another animal that has ingested poison.  Since rats and mice ingest a very small amount of poison, the risk of secondary poisoning with household pets is very lower.

Is a mouse just a baby rat?

No, mice and rats may look similar, but they are not the same.  A great tip for distinguising between an adult mouse and juvenile rat is to compare their tails and ears.  Adult mice have larger ears and longer tails compared to juvenile rats.

How To Get Rid of Mice:  Mice keep stealing the bait off of my snap traps?

Tip:  Try placing each snap trap perpendicular to the wall with the baited end flush against the wall. 

I am seeing colored rodent droppings.  What does that mean?  

If you or your pest control professional are using rodent poisons, the presence of colored droppings may mean rodents are consuming the poison.  Remember, it can take multiple feedings(depending on the type of poison) and several days for the rat poison to cause mortality.

How To Get Rid of Mice:  Do I need to put bait on glue traps? 

No, in most cases a natural scent or attractant is included with rodent control devices like glue boards or traps

Can a mouse live without water?  

Yes mice can live off the moisture/water in the food they eat.  This means a mice could live its entire life inside of a box of cereal or bag of grains.

What is the lifespan of rodents?  How long do mice live?

House mice can live up to 2 years if allowed to live in a protected area with good access to food and water.

When does house mouse reach maturity? 

In as little as 6 weeks!  This means the average mouse can produce 6-10 littlers of 5 each in a typical lifetime.  That’s right, a single mouse can be responsible for up to 50 baby mice!

How many visits does a mouse make at night to a feeding spot?

Mice may visit a feeding spot up to 200 times in single night to acquire just 2-4 grams of the food they need each day to survive.

How much does a house mouse eat?

At 2-4 grams, a house mouse eats 10 percent of its body weight nightly.

How To Get Rid of Rats Outside?

Concentrate first on removing any favorable conditions in and around your home for rodents to live.  Second, consider the use of rat bait poisons in rat bait stations.  Rat bait stations need to be locked and only accessible to rodents to prevent unintended poisoning of wildlife and pets.

Looking for more information about rodent control and extermination for mice and rats?  Visit:

https://synergy2ms.com/learn-how-to-get-rid-of-mice-rats-synergy²/

https://synergy2ms.com/oh-rats-6-signs-your-rat-poison-is-not-working/

https://synergy2ms.com/what-makes-the-best-mouse-trap-bait-how-to-catch-a-mouse-fast/

If you need pest control services for your home or business please visit our site at https://synergy2ms.com.  Feel free to read more about us and decide if Synergy² is the right company for you.  We have over 200 Five-Star Google reviews for pest control service in the Jackson metro area (Jackson/Madison/Brandon/Ridgeland). Check out our newest location reviews for pest control service in Jackson, MS here!

Barry Pitts, Synergy² Owner

Barry Pitts, Synergy² Owner

Pharmacist and Synergy² Pest owner, Barry Pitts, is a long-time Madison, MS resident with a passion for applying advanced scientific pest principles to pest control services in the Jackson metro area.  Combining exceptional customer service with cutting-edge pest control technology allows Synergy² to provide residents of the Jackson metro area with the highest levels of pest control available today.

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