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 House
Mouse
Mice are more numerous than rats and are more widespread throughout
urban and suburban communities. A mouse can be distinguished from a
young rat since the rat's head and feet will be overly large in
relation to its body. Few people really like rats or mice, and
no one wants them in their house. Rodents live everywhere outside
and could enter at any time, but fortunately, this does not occur
often. Usually, most home invasions occur in the fall, not because
of cooler weather, but because the seeds and plants on which rodents
feed outside are gone. Rats and mice must then seek new food
sources. Unfortunately, one of these sources may be your home. Mice
are excellent climbers and are capable of gaining entry through
holes around soffit vents and around cables entering the building,
through holes in gable vent screens, and through turbine and box
vents on roofs. Most garage doors on homes allow enough space for
mice to fit underneath, as well.
Size: Small, its body rarely exceeding two inches long and one ounce in
weight.
Color: Usually gray in color, but some may appear darker.
Habitat: Mice are found in almost every part of the country from urban to
rural areas, and are especially prevalent in urban and suburban
communities. Mice are found in buildings more often than rats
because they are smaller and are able to find more available
entryways into a building. Mice can fit through a crack or hole 1/4
of an inch or larger - or about the width of a pencil. Mice will
make their nests in many areas in and around the home, especially in
stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other
debris.
Tips for Control:
The best way to avoid invasions of mice is to (1) provide as
little harborage as possible that might attract rodents, and (2)
seal as many holes and cracks in the outside of the home through
which mice might enter.
Follow these recommendations to help prevent rodents from seeking
the shelter provided by your home:
- Keep firewood stored as far from the home as possible and
store it off the ground. During the winter, store only enough
wood next to the house to burn every couple of days.
- If possible, remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks,
etc. If these are near the foundation of the home they serve as
harborages to attract rodents. Once there, it is any easy step
for rodents to enter the building itself.
- Do not allow piles of leaves to accumulate next to the
home's foundation. This also serves as attractive harborage for
rodents - mice in particular.
- Seal any hole or crack larger than 1/4 of an inch. A good
rule of thumb is that if a pencil can fit into it, a mouse could
too. Large holes or cracks should be stuffed with steel wool or
wire mesh before sealing with caulk or foam, otherwise rodents
could chew through to enter.
- Install good, thick weatherstrip on the bottom of all doors
to prevent rodents from entering. The garage door may prove
difficult to seal completely, so the door from the garage to the
house must be sealed tightly.
- Remember, your service includes coverage of communal rats
and mice, and much of the service provided during the colder
months is to inspect for signs of rodents and to maintain
preventive control measures.
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