One Little Mouse In My Louisville Home Is No Big Deal, Right?

If you Google "house mouse images," you will see some very cute little animals in some adorable poses. A house mouse looks like the picture of innocence, but these rodents are far from innocent, especially if they manage to get into your home and start a large family! An infestation of house mice can cause many problems, from spreading disease pathogens to chewing holes in treasured items. Today we are talking about the dangers of these mice and what home and business owners can do to protect themselves.

House mice are prolific breeders: One pregnant female can turn into a large infestation of mice in a matter of months. Here are some of the problems mice in your house might cause:

House mice can spread diseases: A few of the diseases that house mice are known to spread are hantavirus, bubonic plague, salmonellosis, and rat-bite fever. Diseases can be contracted through exposure to the rodent's feces, from scratches or bites, or through contaminated foods.

House mice carry parasites that can spread diseases: If house mice get in, they never come alone. Not only can they "invite" other mice inside, but they can be carrying a host of smaller pests in their fur. Mice can carry fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. One tiny house mouse can be the carrier of as many as 100 seed ticks!

These parasites are known to carry diseases of their own. Fleas are known to spread typhus and the plague, as well as "cat-scratch fever." Ticks are known to transmit several diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

House mice damage things: When these tiny rodents get into a home, there's no end to the damage they can cause if they are not dealt with quickly. Mice, like all rodents, have front incisor teeth that never stop growing. Because of this, they need to chew on things to wear them down, so they do not grow too long. Mice will happily chew on anything from structural components of a home to items that have been carefully stored away for safekeeping. They can even chew on electrical wires inside wall voids, which has been known to cause house fires.

House mice can smell up the place: When house mice build their nests, they neglect to build a bathroom. Mice leave droppings and urine right in their nests, and everywhere else they roam in a house. Some of the places they track urine and feces are inside wall voids, in drawers and cabinets, and on food preparation surfaces. This is one of the ways mice spread illness. If there is enough urine build-up concentrated in one area, it will produce a bad smell.

Mice are shy creatures that tend to stay hidden. If you spot one mouse out and about, it likely means that there are many more hiding just out of sight. One female mouse can have from 32 to 56 pups in a year. And each one of her female offspring can begin multiplying at seven weeks of age.

Mice can squeeze through tiny openings, some only the size of a dime. And if a hole isn't big enough, they can chew it larger. The following mouse prevention tips may help keep these destructive creatures out of your home:

• Examine the outside of your home and seal up any gaps, cracks, or holes you find.
• Check your screens and repair or replace any that have rips or holes in them.
• Declutter your storage areas. Rodents love having lots of places to hide and build nests.
• Declutter your yard. Rodents don't like being out in the open. If your property doesn't provide hiding places, they may not come in close to your home and, subsequently, won't get inside.

If you are seeing house mice inside your home, or the signs they leave behind (such as droppings in hidden places), don't try to take care of the problem on your own. The pest control professionals here at Action Pest Control have the experience, tools, and know-how to get rid of house mice and keep them out. Reach out to us today for prompt, professional assistance you can count on.