Mice

What do mice look like?

Mice are small rodents with slender bodies that allow them to squeeze through tight spaces, sharp claws that enable them to get to higher elevations by climbing, and long whiskers that help them feel their way in the dark. Most mice have gray or brown fur that is lighter on the underside. Some mice are tawny on top and white on the belly. Compared to rats, mice have relatively more prominent ears and smaller eyes. A full-grown adult mouse ranges in size from 2 ½ to 3 ¾ inches with a long, thin tail roughly the same length as the body.

What do mice eat?

Mice are omnivores. They eat foods that are of plant or animal origin. When one of these little rodents enters your yard, it’ll feed on nuts, seeds, fruit, or bugs. If it finds its way into your home, which isn’t common in our area, it will establish itself in a concealed location near preferable food sources, such as bread, cereal, sunflower seeds, etc. They’ll also live in attic spaces, particularly if they find a food source, like popcorn strings in your Christmas decorations box.

How do mice get inside?

Mice can get into your home through a gap the size of a dime. If they find a gap too small to squeeze through, they can use their teeth to make it larger. Here are a few common ways mice enter homes and other structures:

• They will find a small gap in weatherstripping and chew on it to make it larger and slip inside.
• They’ll slip through gaps around plumbing or wire conduits.
• They climb exterior walls to get to gable vents and enter attics.
• Mice climb up through a gutter downspout to get onto a roof and enter through a seal around a roof penetration.
• They will gnaw on a vent cover and use an exhaust line to enter a laundry room by gnawing a hole in a dryer hose.
• They will slip under a poor garage seal.

Where do mice nest?

House mice want to live where it is warm and secure. They also want a space that is near a food source. A typical nesting location is within the walls of a pantry or kitchen. Other areas to check for mice include:

• Behind the oven or other kitchen appliances.
• In the ceiling.
• In and around furniture and belongings in the attic and other storage areas.
• Inside cardboard boxes in your storage room.

When you find fluffy material in a clump, you’ve found yourself a mouse nest. You’re likely to see tiny black fecal matter as well.

Are mice dangerous?

Mice are not directly dangerous. It is rare for a mouse to bite a human. But they can cause harm in other ways.

• Mice can pick up bacteria and spread it from unsanitary locations to cooking surfaces, dishes, and more.
• Mice gnaw holes in food packages and can contaminate the contents with urine, droppings, and/or the organisms in their fur.
• Mice carry ticks, fleas, and other secondary pests associated with human illness.
• Mice are known to chew on wires. This is a fire hazard.

How can I tell if I have a mouse problem?

There are several ways to tell whether mice have entered your home. Search for these signs in secluded areas around and inside your home:

• Tiny black droppings that are about the size of rice grains
• Gnaw marks in building materials
• Holes in food packaging
• Soft nesting materials
• Grease marks on baseboards or around gaps
• Scratching noises in walls

How do I get rid of mice?

If you’ve detected mouse activity, contact Marathon Pest Control for help. Since 2016, our local pest control company has been exterminating mice from homes and businesses in The Woodlands and surrounding areas and is ready to help you get rid of mice.

How can I prevent Mice?

Although mouse infestations aren’t as big a problem in our area as in other places, they can cause trouble when they get indoors. Remember that as you work to prevent mice, you’ll also help keep rats and other pests out. Here are some suggestions:

• Seal gaps around utility lines.
• Patch holes in wood and other building materials.
• Replace worn-out weatherstripping and sweeps.
• Keep food secured.
• Keep trash cans covered and clean.
• Remove junk piles and other clutter.
• Remove bird feeders.