Milwaukee Rodent Control Specialists Offers Tips for Mouse Infestations

Everything You Didn’t Want To Know About Rodent Infestations

 “Eek, a mouse!”

We’ve all seen the stereotypical image of a screaming woman standing on a chair, terrified by a little house mouse.  It may seem laughable, but the more you know about these little pests and the havoc they can wreak, the more there is to be afraid of.

In the Milwaukee area, the main culprit in rodent infestations is the house mouse (Mus Musculus). It is a small, slender rodent, usually grayish brown with a gray or light-colored belly.  It typically has beady black eyes, big ears with not much hair, and an almost hairless tail with noticeable scale rings. Yuck!

Milwaukee Rodent Control Company On How Mice Infestations Start

There are numerous ways mice can get into Milwaukee homes and businesses. Cracks and holes in walls, floors and foundations, gaps in windows or ceilings, even sink and bathtub drains all provide an opportunity for mice to invade your home. They have a remarkable ability to squeeze themselves through very small openings, as small as ¼”, and when searching for a warm place to winter they will look for small gaps they can widen by chewing. Once inside, they rarely leave. To make matters worse, mice proliferate quickly. Within a matter of months you can have over 200 mice in your home or business. For a mouse infestation of this magnitude, you really need a professional exterminator experienced in rodent control to eradicate the infestation completely. However, at the first sign of mice it is a good idea to seek the help of a residential or commercial rodent control service, as the full extent of your mouse infestation may not be readily apparent.

Mice Infestations in Milwaukee—More Serious Than You Think

The dangers of having a mouse infestation are more serious than many people think. Contact with mice, mice urine, or mice droppings has been linked to a number of human diseases, including leptospirosis, typhus, rat-bite fever, tapeworms, and salmonellosis (food poisoning). Mice have also been found to transmit diseases to pets and other animals. Just cleaning up mice droppings can put you at serious risk of infection if proper safety precautions are not taken. For instance, you should never sweep them up, as this can release contaminants into the air. Always wear gloves and throw away the paper towel or cloth used for picking up the droppings. It’s even recommended you dispose of any clothing that has come into contact with them during cleaning. Yes, it is this serious. Of course, all surfaces should be disinfected and any food the mice got into should be thrown out.

In addition to the health issues of having a mouse infestation, consider their propensity for ruining documents stored in cardboard boxes and food in plastic or paper containers. On top of all this, there is the very real danger of substantial damage to your home from their gnawing and digging. Wood particle board, drywall, and insulation can all be quickly compromised by a colony of mice. Since they often make their nests in large electrical appliance, they can also chew up electrical wiring and cause short circuit malfunctions or even a fire.

Milwaukee Residential Pest Control Experts Provide Advice on Avoiding Infestation

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of a mouse infestation. First and foremost, make sure there are no openings to your house. Even a tiny ¼” crack can provide an opportunity for a mouse to claw and gnaw his way in.

It’s also recommended to:

• Keep garbage cans lids tightly closed

• Stack firewood at least 18” off the ground and away from your house

• Keep birdhouses and bird seed on poles and in trays

• Regularly clean sheds and outdoor storage areas

• Clear your home and yard of any rubbish

• Do not compost any animal products

• Remove fallen fruits and seeds from your property

• Don’t leave pet food outside

• Keep trees and bushes trimmed back so rodents can’t drop down from them onto your roof

Milwaukee Pest Control for Homes and Businesses

If you have mice in your home or office, the best course of action is to contact a Milwaukee residential rodent control specialist like A-Landlords Pest Management. Not only do we have the experience to safely deal with the infestation, but the techniques and materials we use are proven to work.

If you want to try it yourself first though, trapping is the recommended approach. Poisons are just too dangerous to have in a place where children or pets can come into contact with them and there is always the risk a poisoned mouse will die in an impossible to reach spot in your house, usually in the wall, resulting in an awful smell for months.

The best trap is the simple “snap trap” or “glue board” commonly sold in hardware stores. Bear in mind, though: Injured rodents must be killed. After use, these traps should be disposed of in the trash, along with the mouse. Wrap the dead rodent in newspaper or a plastic bag before putting in the garbage. Use gloves if possible and try not to touch the dead rodent. Always wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap—yes, even if you wore gloves!

Got mice? Contact our Milwaukee rodent control specialists today for professional pest control services at reasonable prices.