As winter closes in, house mice become more commonly seen in gardens as they attempt to find somewhere warm and dry to build their nests. A house that they can easily enter provides the perfect habitat; for the owner, however, the situation can be a nightmare.
Mice are extremely well-adapted to get into buildings; as well as being able to squeeze through tiny holes in damaged brick and woodwork, they can also climb, jump, swim and run along wires.
Given the choice, mice prefer to build their nests in quiet, secluded areas that are not too far from a food source. Again, their agility allows them into every part of the house, from lofts and suspended ceilings to basements and the spaces under floorboards.
The clearest indication that you have a mouse problem is to see one disappearing through a hole in your skirting board. Other indicators include the presence of droppings (they look like fine iron filings), chewed boxes or plastic bags, greasy fur marks along walls or skirting boards, an unpleasant smell of urine and the sound of scratching or scampering, particularly at twilight and dawn.
Houses that offer easy access to food are a rodent's dream. Therefore, you must make your foodstuffs totally inaccessible. Loose food should be removed from the bag or packet in which it was sold and transferred to something more solid - a glass jar or heavy, plastic container. Bins should have tightly fitted lids and be emptied regularly. Check under your fridge or cooker to make certain that nothing edible is lurking there and always keep your floors clean. Put away food when you have finished with it and ensure that work surfaces are spotless. Anything that might be used for nests should also be securely stowed.
It is essential that all holes in the structure of your house are blocked off; wire wool and caulking are ideal fillers. Pay particular attention to where your pipes come in. Check for broken airbricks and vents, and repair where necessary with fine mesh. Gaps below doors can be minimised with draught excluders. Check your fascia boards and replace if rotten.
Mice can reproduce from the age of four weeks, have five to ten litters per year and average four to eight young per litter. Therefore, if you have a problem you must act quickly! Snap traps are the traditional way of getting rid of mice, and are considered to be humane. Less humane is poison, which can also harm predators. Live traps don't kill, but you do have to make sure that you release the contents several miles from your house otherwise they may get home before you! Perhaps the easiest option is to contact a professional, who will take care of the problem quickly and efficiently.
The problem with mice is not just that they carry diseases and parasites that can be harmful to humans. They also gnaw constantly, which can lead to damage not just to the internal structure of the house but also to electrical wire. This potentially can causes fires.
Mice are extremely well-adapted to get into buildings; as well as being able to squeeze through tiny holes in damaged brick and woodwork, they can also climb, jump, swim and run along wires.
Given the choice, mice prefer to build their nests in quiet, secluded areas that are not too far from a food source. Again, their agility allows them into every part of the house, from lofts and suspended ceilings to basements and the spaces under floorboards.
The clearest indication that you have a mouse problem is to see one disappearing through a hole in your skirting board. Other indicators include the presence of droppings (they look like fine iron filings), chewed boxes or plastic bags, greasy fur marks along walls or skirting boards, an unpleasant smell of urine and the sound of scratching or scampering, particularly at twilight and dawn.
Houses that offer easy access to food are a rodent's dream. Therefore, you must make your foodstuffs totally inaccessible. Loose food should be removed from the bag or packet in which it was sold and transferred to something more solid - a glass jar or heavy, plastic container. Bins should have tightly fitted lids and be emptied regularly. Check under your fridge or cooker to make certain that nothing edible is lurking there and always keep your floors clean. Put away food when you have finished with it and ensure that work surfaces are spotless. Anything that might be used for nests should also be securely stowed.
It is essential that all holes in the structure of your house are blocked off; wire wool and caulking are ideal fillers. Pay particular attention to where your pipes come in. Check for broken airbricks and vents, and repair where necessary with fine mesh. Gaps below doors can be minimised with draught excluders. Check your fascia boards and replace if rotten.
Mice can reproduce from the age of four weeks, have five to ten litters per year and average four to eight young per litter. Therefore, if you have a problem you must act quickly! Snap traps are the traditional way of getting rid of mice, and are considered to be humane. Less humane is poison, which can also harm predators. Live traps don't kill, but you do have to make sure that you release the contents several miles from your house otherwise they may get home before you! Perhaps the easiest option is to contact a professional, who will take care of the problem quickly and efficiently.
The problem with mice is not just that they carry diseases and parasites that can be harmful to humans. They also gnaw constantly, which can lead to damage not just to the internal structure of the house but also to electrical wire. This potentially can causes fires.
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