Are you tired of being awakened at 2 am by the sound of tiny paws coming from inside your wall and ceiling voids? Does a little part of your soul die every time you find a new hole chewed through a wall in your home? Does just the thought of mice spark rage in your gut? You are not alone. Mice are a huge problem here in San Antonio, and homeowners everywhere are looking for new solutions to get and keep them out. If you are curious to know how the mice in your San Antonio home got in, we are here to help you find out. Here is everything you need to know about the mice in our area.
What Are Mice?
Mice are small furry nocturnal pests from the family of Rodentia. Known for their adept ability to invade homes, mice can be identified by their large ears, furry bodies, long slender tails, and pointy noses. How prevalent of a problem are mice? Here in America, they are the number one home-invading rodent. What makes mice the most common home-invading rodent? Two things, their adept climbing ability, and their unnatural skill to contort their body to fit through incredibly small holes. How small? A hole only has to be the diameter of nickel for an average house mouse to squeeze through. Take a look at a nickel sometimes. It should give you a better idea of how mice get into homes so easily.
Mice are also incredibly dangerous. Known to be able to spread over 35 diseases through their urine, saliva, fecal matter, and bites, mice are the last pests you want inside your home. If you suspect your home is infested by mice, be extremely careful, and use protective gear when cleaning up the messes they leave behind.
Factors That Attract Mice To Homes
Here in San Antonio, nine times out of ten, mice accidentally wander into homes and stay for what they find. The other ten percent of the time, mice are forced in by inclement weather, cold, or by some other exterior threat.
Once inside a home, mice look for three things, water, shelter, and most importantly food. Of these three necessities, shelter and water are the two easiest for mice to find. Your wall and ceiling voids are all mice need to build a home, and it only takes one leaky pipe, a broken gutter, or a source of water build up in or around your home for mice to stay hydrated. Food is a bit more difficult for mice to acquire. If they find their way into your cabinets and cupboards, they could chew their way into boxes of stored food. Another option they have is to scavenge around your floors, inside your trash cans, and over your countertops and tables for left-out, dropped, or discarded food.
How To Make Your Home Less Attractive and Accessible To Mice
When it comes to keeping mice out of your San Antonio home, here are some prevention tips we recommend.
- Use a caulking gun to seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior.
- Have serious damage to your home’s exterior repaired?
- Make sure all of your screens are in good repair.
- Fix leaks around your home.
- Check your gutters and make sure they are not clogged, cracked, or broken in any way.
- Reduce the clutter in and around your home.
- Pick up debris from your yard and do your best to keep up with your landscaping.
- Thoroughly clean your home at least once a week and try to pick up drinks and food spills as they happen.
- Store leftover food inside airtight containers.
- Make sure your trashcan lids all fit tightly.
- Pick up and clean out pet food and water bowls before heading to bed at night.
The Best Way To Get Mice Out Of Your Home
If only a couple of mice are causing you trouble, a few carefully placed traps might solve your problem. For infestations of three or more mice, however, we highly recommend getting the professionals here at Family Pest Control involved. We have the tools, equipment, and experience needed to quickly and effectively remove rodents from your home.
Reach out to us today to schedule a time for your home to be serviced for mice.