Mice are very active creatures. They have high metabolic rates, and they spend most of their day running around looking for food. But how do their activity patterns change when they enter the home and how does this affect an infestation?
When are mice most active?
Mice have a shifting sleep schedule. When they are in the wild, they are most active at dusk and at dawn, since that’s when the lighting conditions are at their lowest. When they enter the home however, they are active throughout the night, and they stick to areas that are very dark. There is a third activity pattern on top of all of these – when a nest becomes overpopulated, the mice will become active during the day, and that’s when you are most likely to spot one out in the open.
Where do mice sleep?
Mice will build nests wherever they set up, and these nests are made of stringy materials that the mice find in their environment. Once the nest is set up, the mouse will rarely venture more than 30-feet away from it in search of food. When it comes to nesting locations, mice will prefer to set up inside wall voids and inside clutter, since these areas are dark and hidden.
How to tell if there is an active infestation in your home
Since you will rarely see a mouse out in the open, you have to rely on other signs that will help you detect an infestation. To start, there are the droppings. Droppings are usually the main sign during a mouse infestation, and you will find them grouped up in areas where mice are very active. Mice will also gnaw on various surfaces in the home, and these gnaw marks can help you detect an infestation. If the infestation is large enough, you may even hear the mice inside the walls at night when they are active.
Stopping an infestation
In order to stop a mouse infestation, calling a pest control company is the best way to go. A pest control team will either go with traps or poisons, depending on several factors, including the size of the infestation. Some teams will also help with the cleanup process and implement certain prevention measures for an extra cost. If you would like to find out more about mouse activity patterns, or if you need help with the removal of an infestation, contact us today.
