Mice, as cute and harmless looking as they appear, account for more than half of all pest-related insurance claims in the United States. Their teeth, like all rodents, grow continuously, and to keep them in check, they'll happily chew up your books, furniture legs, or bottoms of the walls. Their constant gnawing includes an appetite for electrical wiring hidden inside the house walls, resulting in house fires.
Add to that the multiple diseases they carry and their ability to find and contaminate all the food in the house, and it's clear that sharing your home with mice is not a great idea.
You're likely to run into two types of mice in Oklahoma City. House mice are 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches long, not counting the tail with grey fur and cream-colored undersides. Deer mice are a bit bigger, up to 8 inches long, including the tail, and colored similarly to deer-brown with white feet and undersides.
Noticing a mouse infestation in its early stages is the key to the successful eviction of the little rodents from your house, so let's look at signs to watch for, dangers mice bring, and how to find a reliable pest control service in Oklahoma City to evict them.
How Can I Tell If It's Mice In My House?
Mice are nocturnal and great at staying out of sight, so spotting their presence can be tricky. Watch for these tell tail signs:
- Mice droppings. Mice droppings are usually 1/8 to 1/4 inches long and rod-shaped.
- Oily rub marks on the walls.
- Gnaw marks on walls, books, or furniture.
- Tracks: 4-toed from the front and 5-toed from the rear feet.
- The odor of mouse urine.
- Spotting the adult rodents.
The smell of mouse urine and seeing actual rodents in your house are signs that the colony is pretty large and mice are running out of food closer to the nest.
You Don't Have To Touch Mice For Them To Make You Sick
Mice infestation in your house exposes you and your loved ones to numerous infectious diseases carried by these rodents, including leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), tularemia, salmonellosis, and more.
Mice feces can trigger asthma attacks and severe allergic reactions in people with weaker immune systems.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Mice In Your Home
If you've spotted mice inside your Oklahoma City home, it's most likely house mice. House mice are notorious for preferring human homes to nature and breeding speeds unmatched by any other rodent. A single house mouse snuck into your home can become a colony of hundreds in a few months. As with most other Oklahoma City pests, prevention is cheaper and less painful than a cure.
- Some good tips to prevent mice in your home include:
- Seal cracks and crevices in your outside walls
- Keep food in sealed containers
- Fix up the mortar on the foundation and house wall joint
House mice are very difficult to clear out of the house once the colony is established, and the process is best left to a professional.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Mice Around Your Home
If you've spotted mice on your property but outside the house, it's most likely deer mice.
To prevent them from developing interest in your property:
- Keep garbage in sealed containers.
- Cut the grass short to remove the mice's hiding spots.
- Regularly inspect cars, RVs, and outbuildings for infestation.
Sometimes, regardless of preventative measures, you come to realize that your house or property has a mouse problem. At Alpha Omega Pest Control, we are family owned and operated and have built our reputation on more than 20 years of solving pest problems in the Oklahoma City area.
If you're struggling with a mouse infestation, give us a call today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Oklahoma City.