The thought of having a mouse skittering across your floor or rummaging through your linen closet can be quite unsettling. If you have ever seen a mouse sprint out across the kitchen floor unexpectedly, you may be wondering if you have a mouse problem in your house. While a mouse or two can develop quickly into a full infestation, you may be catching a glimpse of the first mouse that made its way into your home. While you do not have a mouse problem yet, it is important to act quickly to get rid of it before there is a mouse population explosion in your walls.
How to identify an infestation:
The difference between a few mice and a full infestation is quite large. Your treatment of the problem will be different based on the severity of the problem. While one mouse can cause some damage around your home, the damage and evidence left behind by an infestation will be widespread. A few ways to identify an infestation include:
- Droppings: You may see a few mouse droppings in corners of closets, along your baseboards, or on the edges of your countertops. But if you discover a lot of droppings concentrated in one area, you may have found a highly trafficked spot for multiple mice or even the location of a nest.
- Gnaw marks: Coming across a book with chewed corners or a bed sheet with holes may be a sign of a mouse preparing their nest. But if you are finding multiple things chewed up or gnawed on, you may have a much bigger problem.
- Seeing mice often: While one mouse may scurry out of their hiding spot every now and again, an infestation will include seeing mice often around your home. If you are seeing a mouse or recent activity of a mouse every day, you could have a serious infestation on your hands.
Prevention
If you highly suspect a mouse infestation, there are ways you can prevent more mice from coming into your home. Calling a pest control professional is the best way to get rid of the mice currently inside your house. But a few things you can do to prevent an infestation from happening in the future or to curb the current infestation while you wait for the professionals to come include:
- Seal Entry Points: Mice can enter through the tiniest of openings. Inspect your home for gaps, cracks, and holes, and seal them using materials like steel wool, caulk, or hardware cloth. Focus on areas where utility lines enter your home.
- Remove Attractants: Eliminate food and water sources to discourage mice from staying. Always store food in airtight containers, clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
- Sanitation: Keep your home clean and clutter-free. Regularly clean and vacuum to remove food crumbs, nesting materials, and hiding spots for mice.
If you are in Salinas, CA, and need help eliminating a mouse problem, give Target Pest Control a call today.
