Mice and Rodents
Did you know rodents are the largest group of mammals in the world? In Mississippi, we have 22 kinds of rodents including mice, rats, voles, and squirrels. Other than being a food source to other animals and the aeration they provide your lawn while burrowing underground, they don’t have many positive attributes.
The “bad” list
Rodents:
Gnaw on electrical wires inside and outside of your home.
Chew on the wood and insulation in your walls and attics.
Carry diseases and parasites that are harmful to humans and pets.
Actively reproduce, with several litters a year!
Speaking of their reproductive life…
Mice are especially “active” and can start having babies at just a few months old. In their short lifespan of only 8 months to a year, one female can have 8 litters, or 50-60 baby mice. They are just looking for food and a warm place to sleep and then they can set up house!
Keep mice and rodents out of your house!
Most of the problem with an infestation of any pest can be solved by just keeping them out in the first place. Here are some things you can do to prevent mice and rodents from entering:
Caulk gaps around doors and windows of your home.
Remove branches, limbs or vines that are leaning on your home.
Close gaps around pipes, vents and cables, a mouse can squeeze through a dime sized opening.
Move outside garbage cans further away from your house.
Remove sticks, leaves, debris from lawn.
Don’t allow grass to grow too high, this along with debris create hiding places for rodents.
Move piles of firewood at least one foot off the ground and away from the exterior of your home.
Check vents, window/door screens and weather stripping around all openings.
If you have a fireplace, install a chimney cap to keep rodents from climbing in.
A warm home and a nice meal, that’s all.
Rodents are especially attracted to the smell of food. You can help deter rodents and mice from moving in by doing the following:
Don’t leave pet food sitting out at night. (Roaches love pet food, too!)
Keep pet food in an air tight container when stored.
Store leftover food immediately.
Clear dirty dishes from the sink before you go to bed.
Remove garbage from inside your home BEFORE it gets full or worse, overflowing.
Declutter storage areas and place storage bins off of the floor.
If you are providing access to the inside of your home AND leaving food out for pests, how can you blame them for moving in with you? Our licensed pest technicians know exactly what to do when dealing with mice and rodents. Our Pest360 Program can help you before an infestation.
Once mice and rodents are in, the infestation can become a messy one. It’s best to stop this problem before it happens. Contact us and we will be in touch with you ASAP. We service the Memphis, TN and North Mississippi areas with trained and trustworthy employees.
