A Step-By-Step Guide To Keeping Mice Out Of Your San Antonio Home

a house mouse infesting a home
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When you think about a potential mouse infestation on your property, you never really think it’s going to happen…until it does. And, if you ask any homeowners that have dealt with a mouse infestation in their own homes, you’ll realize that it’s not something you want to allow on your property. Mice may get put into the nuisance category pretty quickly, but they can be a very dangerous home invader (and nearly impossible to eradicate on your own).

The Menace And Mayhem Behind Mice

Mice may be one of the smallest home-invading rodents (only about three inches long, not including the tail), but they’re also one of the most common. Along with tiny bodies that can squeeze into very tight spaces, these light gray to light brown rodents are also equipped with very sharp teeth and the incessant desire to chew. These teeth allow them to chew through almost anything: wood, drywall, vinyl siding, electrical wiring, linens, laundry, and more, which make mice incredibly difficult to keep out of your house.
 
Along with the potential damage that mice can do on your San Antonio property, they also have a more troubling attribute: their ability to carry and transfer dangerous bacteria. When they’re not invading your property, mice spend a majority of their lives in highly contaminated areas like sewers, landfills, and dumpsters. As they search for wasted human food (one of their favorite meals), they’ll pick up all sorts of bacteria that they can transfer to your frequently touched surfaces. They’ll also spread the bacteria to your stored foods or meal preparation areas, putting you at risk of incurring diseases like salmonellosis, E.coli, and many others.

Prevention Problems

Since mice can be so difficult to keep out of your home, prevention can become a headache. Remember: their bodies can squeeze through holes that are barely bigger than a quarter. Plus, any holes or cracks that they can’t squeeze through can be widened with their sharp teeth. However, with the threat of health hazards and home damage on the line, it is still worth trying to keep them out at all costs. There are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of a mouse infestation:

  • Store your food and trash properly. Any crumbs or leftovers left hanging around can attract mice quickly, and they love feeding on trash both inside and outside the house. Make sure your trash cans can’t be chewed through or provide easy access to small mice. You’ll also want to make sure your pet food and birdseed are stored properly.
  • Clean your home regularly. Wiping off counters and tables, along with mopping and vacuuming regularly, can limit loose crumbs hanging around. Make sure to clean up after your pets are done eating their food, as well.
  • Pick up the clutter. In low-traffic areas like basements and crawl spaces, mice love to hide in the clutter. An open and organized space, on the other hand, is very intimidating and might discourage an infestation.
  • Seal up potential entry points. If mice don’t see an easy way in, they might move on to another house. Use caulking to seal the cracks in the foundation and put weatherstripping on all exterior doors to prevent an easy entry.

While these methods can be helpful, they won’t do much once the mice have gotten in. These rodents typically invade with more than two of their friends, and they’ll breed very quickly. That’s why traps and poisons hardly ever get rid of an infestation completely. By the time you take care of a few of them, there could be a dozen more within your walls. Fortunately, you don’t have to fight them alone. The safest and most effective way to prevent or eradicate a mouse infestation is to contact the professionals at White Knight Pest Control.