Is it Worth Calling Pest Control for Mice?

House mice are often thought of as cute. If the odd one gets into your house, it’s nothing more than a nuisance, right? Wrong. Mice are active all year round and are one of the most common, and problematic, pests in the UK. Here’s why it’s worth calling pest control for mice.

The Problems Mice Can Cause

They spread diseases

Mouse urine and droppings contain nasty pathogens like salmonella and listeria which can make you and your family very sick. Imagine what might happen if mice get into your food cupboards or they scurry across your kitchen worktops.

They can cause damage

Mice love to gnaw on everything from electric cables to food packaging and wood. They do this to keep their teeth a certain length. While that might be helpful for them, it’s dangerous for you. There have been cases where electrical fires occurred as a result of mouse activity.

What Type of Mouse is in My House?

The two types of mice you’ll see in your home are house mice or field mice. But how do you know which is which?

House mice have small feet, big eyes, and a pointed snout. They’re tiny at only 60-90mm long and they weigh less than 25g. They are light brown and grey in colour and another distinguishing feature is that they stink! Yes, if you have an infestation of house mice, there’ll be a noticeable and unpleasant musky smell of ammonia.

Field mice are sandy brown in colour. They have bigger eyes and ears than house mice, mainly because they need to be able to see and hear predators outdoors. Their distinguishing feature is their long tail.

How Can I Stop Mice From Getting In?

Mice are determined pests, especially in the colder months when the lure of food and shelter is too strong to resist. But there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of them getting in to your home.

· Seal up any potential entry points- this is harder than it sounds. Mice can squeeze through the tiniest of gaps, so you have to be thorough. Check for holes and gaps around pipework, windows, doors, walls, and foundations. If you find any, seal them up with wire wool and cement. Think about installing door sweeps or door brush strips on exterior doors.

· Tidy up your garden- piles of wood, debris, or overgrown shrubs are ideal nesting sites for mice.

· Keep your bins securely shut and cover compost heaps-rubbish will attract hungry mice looking for a meal.

· Keep your house clean and tidy-clean up any crumbs or food debris and don’t leave pet food out and uncovered for long periods of time. Make sure any food is stored in airtight containers.

Can I Get Rid of Mice Myself?

Before you go and spend money on traps and various poisons, consider this. Mice move fast, they breed fast, and are becoming increasingly resistant to rodenticides. This makes it difficult to control a mice infestation on your own.

A better bet is calling in professional pest control. Contego’s expert technicians have the expertise to control mice and access to professional products not available to the public.

The most important thing is they’re trained to do this safely and effectively. You can go out and buy a load of bait and poisons, but you have to think about how you’ll use them safely if you have children and pets.

Then there’s the problem of accidentally forgetting about a trap. There could be a dead mouse carcass lying in there for a while which is not only smelly, but it could be deadly. What might happen if your pet, or next door’s cat, came across the body of a poisoned mouse? They could be indirectly poisoned. Not really worth the risk, is it?

Got a Problem with Mice? Call Contego

If you’re battling a mice infestation in your home, call Contego. We understand mice behaviour and know where and when to use products to nip an infestation in the bud. Our technicians will find out how the mice got in, how serious the infestation is, and where they might be nesting. After the initial survey of your property, they’ll come up with a plan to make your home pest-free and keep it that way.

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