If you suspect that you have a house mouse in your Australian home, you’ll want to take action as soon as possible. The first thing you need to do is identify what type of problem you have, get rid of any current infestation and then work out how to prevent mice in the future. But where do you start?
What Causes Mice in the House?
Mice are opportunists and always looking for a good food source or a protected place to build a nest. They’ll be vulnerable whenever they are out in the wild and prey for foxes, wild cats and other predators. If they can get into your home, they will find a secluded spot and settle down for the long haul.
What Should You Be Looking for?
If you search closely, you will find the tell-tale signs. The first thing to look for is droppings. But, when you find them, you’ll want to work out whether they are mouse or rat droppings. The latter tend to be larger and may be blunt at both ends, while mouse droppings tend to be pointed at either end. You may have a large infestation if you have a lot of droppings. If you have baby mice in the house, you may notice faeces of varying sizes and may also sense a strong smell of urine.
You may also hear some noises at night, such as scratching inside drywall or underneath a floorboard. If you’ve left any newspaper around, don’t be surprised if you can see evidence of shredding, as these mice find suitable materials to help them build their indoor nest.
How Do You Get Rid of Mice in the House?
If you’re trying to figure out how to catch mice in the house, your best bet is to lay some traps or baiting stations down. These are effective mouse killers, and you can find a variety of them on the market. Some of these products feature glue that traps the creature in place, while snap traps instantly kill any mouse. The baiting stations will have a special kind of poison that will eliminate the problem within a couple of days.
How Many Different Mice Species Are There?
While there are many different mouse species, they fall into two categories – field mice and house mice. The latter is much smaller than the former, with larger eyes and ears. They’re active all year round and could infiltrate your home at any time.
How Long Do Mice Live?
Mice can live in the wild for up to around a year, but this can extend to maybe three years if they find a home in your house.
Where Do Wild Mice Live?
Wild mice live anywhere in the open near a source of energy. Field mouse food tends to consist of insects or small snails, but they also eat seed crops, apples or grain.
How to Prevent Mice in Your Home
The best way to prevent a mouse infestation is to seal any holes in your exterior walls, especially around the lower levels. This will include cavities that carry HVAC pipes or other conduits. Also, look for any large cracks in baseboards and fix those too.
Turning to the Experts
If you need any additional help, contact pest infestation experts for their advice.
