Did you know that mice are one of the most common pests in Fairfax? Mice are frequent home-invaders because they have a rather dependent relationship with humans. Mice all over the world developed over time to use resources that humans provide such as shelter and food, so they will often live inside homes and businesses, especially if they have easy access to food and water.
The most prevalent mouse species in Fairfax is the common house mouse. These mice are quite small, but don’t let their size fool you. They are able to cause many issues for area homeowners, and they are more than just a nuisance. Mice, just like many other rodents, can cause property damage and spread illnesses.
While you probably have a general idea of what a mouse looks like, it can be difficult to tell them apart from baby rats as they look quite similar in size at this stage. So, we’ve provided a short guide to help you identify the house mouse:
- Their fur is brown-grey and their underbellies are a cream color.
- They have triangular-shaped faces while rats have more blunt faces.
- Their ears are long in proportion to their bodies.
- They have longer, thinner tails than rats. Also, rats have scaly tails and mice do not.
What Makes Mice So Dangerous
The problems with mice are two-fold. First of all, they have incisors that grow constantly, so they have to chew on things all the time to grind their teeth down and keep them from getting too long. Because of this, they will gnaw on all kinds of materials throughout the day and night. They can ruin anything from plastic and wiring to drywall and plumbing. Because of this, they can cost you money in repairs as well as create significant safety issues.
The other big issue with mice is that they are unsanitary pests and bad for human health. They transmit illnesses such as tularemia and salmonellosis, so anything they touch or get into will need to be cleaned or thrown out. They commonly get into food products and contaminate both food and food prep areas.
Mice can also cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Their fur, urine, and droppings are known to make people sick, and they can cause respiratory issues over time as their feces build up in walls.
Why Mice Are So
Difficult To Control
Mice are a particularly hard pest to keep out, and they are even harder to remove once they make their way inside a home. There are a few reasons for this. One is that they are able to reproduce at a rapid rate, given that one female mouse can have over 100 pups each year.
Secondly, they can slip through holes the size of a dime, so it can be quite difficult to seal up all entry points where they could get in.
Because of this, most DIY methods of handling mice just don’t work very well. Many people use mouse traps, and, while these traps can eliminate some of the mice, they aren’t going to get the entire infestation especially as it will just keep growing exponentially.
How To Prevent And Control Mice
While trying to handle a house mouse infestation on your own isn’t likely to work, there is one way to effectively prevent and remove any rodent infestation around your property. The experts at Bluebird Pest Solutions have the expertise, skills, and tools to handle mice problems no matter how severe.
Give us a call today at 1-833-258-2473 to learn more or to request an inspection.
