Would you ever own a mouse as a pet? Do you have one right now? If so, would you ever consider letting it out inside your home unsupervised? Most definitely not! Why? Because mice do not fare well on their own, they cause trouble when they are not carefully watched. In Tampa, one mouse species is invading homes and not looking to be kept as a pet. They are called house mice, and if you are not careful, they could cause serious problems for you, your family, and your property. To help you keep these rodents out of your living areas, here is what you should do to deter them.
Why House Mice Invade
Although house mice are not kept as pets, they still prefer living indoors rather than outside in the wild. Our homes provide these invasive rodents with many places to hide, easily accessible food and water, and protection from the elements. The only thing that would make your home more attractive to mice is if you stopped living inside it but kept it stocked up with food.
How To Seal Your Home’s Exterior
Your home’s exterior is your first line of defense against invasive house mice. To make sure it is properly sealed, use these helpful exclusion tips:
- Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks found in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Install metal screens over vents that lead out from your home.
- Make sure that air conditioning units are properly installed and have no gaps or cracks around them that mice might use to get indoors.
- Invest in door sweeps for all of your home’s exterior doors.
- Repair or replace window and door screens that are ripped or installed improperly.
Eight Ways To Reduce Mouse Attractors
Three things attract mice to homes, food, water, and shelter. Limit their access to these necessities with these eight prevention tips:
- Invest in trash cans with rodent-proof lids and keep them clean.
- Keep your lawn and landscaping well maintained.
- After eating, store leftover food inside of airtight containers.
- Repair damage to your home’s gutter system and have them cleaned every season.
- Address leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
- Keep your outdoor and indoor living areas as clean as possible.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up after it rains.
- Clean up after your pets and wash out their food and water bowls after every meal.
The Problems House Mice Cause
There are three problems house mice cause around homes they infest. First, they are dangerous. House mice spread disease through their fecal matter and urine. They also carry parasitic pests like fleas and ticks. Secondly, mice are destructive. They regularly chew holes through walls, gnaw on furniture, and tear up insulation, fabrics, and paper to build their nests. Finally, mice are annoying. They make noise inside wall and ceiling voids at night and scare people with their presence inside living areas.
When To Get A Professional Involved
The good news with house mice is that they don’t invade every home. To make sure your home is properly defended against these annoying, destructive, and dangerous rodents, let EcoTech Pest Control Services help you out. We have the training needed to identify house mice and remove them from area homes and would be happy to put our services to use for you.
Call us today to learn more about our rodent control services and how we can help you keep house mice away from your Tampa, FL property.