Plan of Attack
You’ve seen or heard evidence of mice? Maybe it’s some nibbled items in your kitchen, some damaged drywall or insulation, or some droppings. Maybe it’s the telltale scurrying sound in the wall cavities as you are trying to sleep.
This is not a matter of a simple inconvenience or minor nuisance. Mice can be a big problem: not only do they carry diseases, such as hantavirus, they can also damage electrical wiring. When they gnaw on these wires, they can leave your home vulnerable to electrical fires. Best to take immediate steps to get rid of mice.
If you have heard mice, place a few traps along the bottom edges of the wall where you think they are. Bait them with peanut butter or a little bacon, and put the food side facing the wall. If there are visible holes or gaps, position the traps here. Be sure to do this before you go to bed at night because mice are nocturnal. They’ll be up foraging for food, and the smell of peanut butter or bacon is hard to resist.
When you wake up in the morning, you’re likely to see that at least one trap has been successful. But don’t stop there! When there is one mouse, there are likely more, and they breed rapidly. Continue to place traps until you do not see or hear evidence of mice.
The procedure is the same for your attic. Simply bait the traps and lay several down before going to bed. If you’re squeamish about handling mice, you can place the trap in a long, thin paper bag (like the ones used for wine) or an empty cereal box. When the trap is successful, simply pick up the bag or box and dispose of it.
A Bigger Problem
Female mice can begin reproducing at just six weeks. From there, they can give birth to a litter in only 19 to 21 days. That’s five, six, or even a dozen more mouths to feed. Further, females can mate immediately after birthing their first litter, so in a few weeks, you could have five, six, or even a dozen more mice in your home. As you can see, the numbers can grow exponentially from there as the pups begin breeding themselves.
Taking care of the problem as soon as you can is essential for maintaining a mouse-free house. If you do see signs of trouble, set traps and keep at it. If you need more help, do not hesitate to contact Rid-a-Bug’s team of experienced pest control experts. We will help you rid your space of these pesky intruders and prevent problems from cropping up in the future.
You don’t have to live with mice. Give us a call today to discuss our effective, safe, solutions.