WHAT DOES A HOUSE MOUSE LOOK LIKE?
Rodent Control
If there is a mouse in the house it is likely a common house mouse. About 5 ½- 7 inches in length with large ears (compared to their bodies) these mice have small beady dark eyes. They range in color from gray to brown and have a light brown belly. Don’t worry, you are not alone! A LOT of houses in Calgary are infested with rodent activity, primarily the common house mouse – Although they may look cute and cuddly the house mouse can carry a variety of diseases and can pose a threat to the structure of your home.
ARE HOUSE MICE DANGEROUS?
If food, water and shelter are readily available to mice, you can anticipate unwanted house-guests. Openings around garage doors and other entrances, cracks in the foundation and around utilities can also provide easy access for these pests. These pests can be especially problematic once the weather turns cold and once inside, mice rapidly multiply so that you could be facing a large rodent problem. Mice are technically very clean animals, its their droppings and urine that aren’t. The common house mouse in Calgary can carry the Bubonic Plague, Salmonella, Murine Typhus, Lymphocytic Chroio-Meningitis and Tapeworms. It is very important that when cleaning mouse droppings you do not sweep, or vacuum them up. Get a disinfectant that kills 99.9% of active viruses (Beech works great – 1 part bleach 9 parts water) and spray the area well enough to eliminate any dust particles from becoming airborne. Then simply wipe up the area and dispose of the paper towel immediately outside – Its advised you wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.
WHAT IS THEIR BEHAVIOR?
In the wild, house mice generally dwell in cracks in rocks or walls or make underground burrows consisting of a complex network of tunnels, several chambers for nesting and storage, and three or four exits. When living with humans, Calgary house mice nest behind rafters, in woodpiles, storage areas, or any hidden spot near a source of food. They construct nests from rags, paper, or other soft substances and line them with finer shredded material. House mice are generally nocturnal, although some are active during the day in human dwellings. House mice are quick runners (up to 8 miles per hour), good climbers, jumpers, and also swim well. Despite this, they rarely travel more than 50 feet from their established homes.
WHAT DO WHEN YOU HAVE HOUSE MICE?
If you’ve heard scurrying in your walls or ceilings, have spotted mouse droppings or other suspicious activity, our Spartan Pest Control technicians can help! We also offer commercial rodent control for companies with mouse infestations. To keep mice as well as other rodents out of your home or business, our technicians recommend eliminating potential food and water sources as well as sealing openings that would allow pest entry.