Most of us who live here in Dallas/Fort Worth count ourselves lucky to reside in such a fantastic area. From the outdoor attractions like the Katy Trail and Lake Grapevine to the art and science attractions like the Perot Museum or Dallas Museum of Art, it’s hard to run out of things to do. Add fine dining, a booming job market, and amazing entertainment into the mix, and it’s no wonder our city continues to grow so fast.
Of course, almost everyone knows that if a city is attractive to people, it’s also going to be attractive to pests that like share our habitats, such as rodents, roaches, mosquitoes, and more. Mice in particular pose a major problem for metro area homeowners, and house mice are one of the most common home-invading pests.
While these small furry rodents can look pretty adorable when they’re running through a maze or chewing grass seeds in an open field, they can be a hazardous, destructive nightmare in your home.
Hazardous Home Invaders
Though tiny, mice can pose serious threats to human health because of the diseases they carry, some of which can be fatal. Hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, rat-bite fever, and salmonella are just a few of the many serious illnesses that can be transmitted by mice. These rodents can spread disease in several ways – from shedding contaminated hairs and leaving dirty footprints, to dropping urine and feces, to biting people that threaten them.
Mice can also be destructive to properties as well. Like all rodents, mice have to chew on hard items like wood, plastic, rubber, and even metal to grind down their constantly-growing teeth. Your furniture, your plumbing, your moldings, your electrical wiring, and even your home’s siding and flooring are all prime entrees on the mouse menu Also, mice won’t hesitate to tear up soft items, such as insulation and cushion stuffing, to use in their nests and chew through walls to gain access to your home.
Unlike rats, mice are not primarily attracted to anything and everything in your garbage. They’re looking for grains, seeds, vegetables, and fresh foods to eat, meaning they’re much more likely to be interested in what’s in your pantry than what’s in your trash. Other things that will attract mice to your house are its accessibility, comfortable temperature, water availability, and hiding places that provide safety from predators like hawks and feral cats. Ways to prevent a mouse infestation include:
- Sealing up all potential access points to your house by covering necessary openings such as ventilation and condensation outlets with metal mouse screens.
- Clearing both outdoor and indoor clutter to eliminate hiding spots.
- Don’t leave crumbs or dirty dishes lying around.
- Making sure both trash and unrefrigerated nonperishables are stored in sealed containers that mask their odors and are tough to chew through.
- Keep a cat or a dog – mice don’t like to share their homes with their natural predators.
Ridding The Rodents
However, even taking all these precautions, it’s still possible to find yourself playing host to unwanted rodent houseguests. If that happens, you might be tempted to take care of the problem yourself. Unfortunately, snap traps, poisons, sticky traps, etc. aren’t effective at eliminating the infestation because they don’t fix the root of the problem – they just kill a few animals, making room for new ones to replace them. Additionally, these measures can pose unique dangers to children and pets.
When all else fails, the best thing you can do is call the pros. Here at Romney Pest Control, we’ve got the training, tools, and experience to not only send the current mice in your house packing, but keep them gone for good.
Our certified technicians will perform assessments of your property and help you come up with extermination maintenance plans that fit your needs and budget. So give us a call today at (214) 273-1785 or visit our contact page to get a free quote.
