Mice greatly improve their odds of survival if they can enter the home, so there is a tremendous incentive for them to do so. This is why mouse infestations are so common, but there are certain things that you can do to protect your home against mice. Here are some of the issues that you need to address in order to mouse-proof your home.
Mouse entry points
Not only are mice small, they also have foldable skeletons, which allows them to fit into any gap that is about one quarter of an inch. This means that if you want to diminish the chances of a mouse infestation starting, you will have to check the exterior of your home for any crack that is this size, and then seal it. Without any entry points, the mice cannot get access no matter how hard they try. Sealing up these entry points can also help protect your home against other pests as well.
Food and other draws
To further improve the effectiveness of your mouse prevention efforts, you can remove all the incentives that these rodents have for entering the home. Food is a major draw for a lot of pests, so if you keep all the food in the home in sealed containers, the pests will have little reason to come in. Under the food category, you will have both pet food and food that you throw away, which also have to be kept out of reach. Other incentives include water sources in the form of leaky pipes, and clutter, which is used by mice to travel and as shelter.
Preventive traps and poisons
Traps and poisons can be used preventatively, to stop an infestation before it even begins. Traps can be placed inside and outside of the home, around the walls of the building where mice are most likely to be active. This will kill them off as they look for food in a new territory. Poisons can be used in a similar manner, but you have to make sure that you use the right poison.
When it comes to control after an infestation has started, you should go with professional help because a pro is able to remove an infestation quickly and completely. If you have any questions about the measures that you need to take in order to mouse-proof a building, or if you are dealing with an infestation, contact us today.
