Cooler weather is quickly approaching for your Hartford neighborhood, and while that means holiday fun is well on its way, it also means your home is at higher risk of a rodent infestation. Rodents like house mice are more likely to infest homes and buildings in general, but autumn and winter bring a sense of bone-chilling urgency for these pests to find cozier accommodations than the nests they may have built outdoors. House mice are destructive pests that can bring a lot of dangers into your home, and despite their size and adorable demeanor, they should never be underestimated.
Of Mice And Men: Facts About House Mice And Their Relationship With Civilization
The house mouse is one of the few home-invading rodents in the United States. They have grayish-brown fur covering their bodies, large paper-thin ears, a pointed nose, and a long hairless tail, and they're only around seven to eight inches in length from nose to tail. They like to make nests in dark, cozy spaces, and they're incredibly prolific – an adult house mouse can have up to 13 litters of roughly six pups each in a year.
These pests are classified under dangerous infestations, which is a classification only given to pests that either cause significant structural damage to property or introduce dangerous pathogens into the home. Unfortunately, mice do both. Not only do they have powerful incisors that can chew through nearly any material, but they also contaminate surfaces with all kinds of nasty viruses and bacteria:
- Hantavirus
- C-diff
- Salmonella
- Campylobacteriosis
- Leptospirosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
- Plague
- Gastroenteritis
The relationship between mice and humans stretches over thousands of years. Before humans created sedentary communities, the dominant species of mice were of the short-tail variety, simply because they were more adept at foraging for their own. As humans started to create settlements and agriculture became common, long-tailed mice like the house mouse stole the spotlight – and quite a bit of grain in the process. These species are more drawn to homes and stored foods, and with such easy access to shelter and food, they had a booming population in no time.
How To Prevent House Mice From Infesting Your Hartford Home This Fall
With how effortlessly these rodents chew through even metal and their ability to squeeze through some of the smallest holes (as small as the circumference of a ball-point pen), trying to keep your Hartford home protected against house mice can seem impossible. Even though it's difficult and it's not a complete guarantee, these prevention tips can reduce your chances:
- Clear out any underbrush around your property, and remove any yard debris and leaf piles
- Trim low-hanging branches and unruly shrubs away from the exterior of your home
- Seal up any potential entry points around the exterior – check siding, foundation, around pipes and wires, roof and trim, and exposed wood
- Clear out any clutter around your home to reduce hiding spots
- Add tight-fitting lids to all indoor and outdoor trash cans
- Keep dried food stored in airtight containers, and never leave food sitting out overnight
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Wipe down counters, food prep areas, and dining tables daily
The Best Way To Exterminate A House Mice Infestation In Your Hartford Home
Mice are dangerous pests, and you should never let an infestation get out of hand. Getting rid of an infestation on your own can be frustrating and incredibly dangerous as well, but it doesn't have to be with American Pest Solutions. Our pest experts have to pass rigorous background checks before they can work for us, and we offer eco-friendly and Integrated rodent control Pest Management treatment options. We know you deserve a safe, secure home for you and your family to live in, and we want to make that a reality. So please get in contact with us today and let us handle the rest for you.