Humans have had a love-hate relationship with mice. Some keep them as pets, but a vast majority regard them as pests. A mouse in the house can be a source of so many diseases, aside from being a nuisance since they have the habit of nibbling whatever they can. Truly, they are very troublesome and costly to have in the United States. That is why the best pest exterminator services in Apex NC, Go-Forth Home Services Company, should be in your phone book so you can just simply call them anytime. In the United States, Chicago is the most infested city, followed by New York. They are highly adaptable and can survive any environment, save for probably Antarctica.
All About Mice
The house mice can be described as a small rodent with light brown to grayish colors, weigh about a ½ ounce, long tails that are actually longer than their bodies, and small black eyes.
- They get to live from 1 ½ year to 3 years. They can be found not only in houses, but also in restaurants, offices, warehouses, hotels, and anywhere there are humans because where there are humans, there is food. They can survive without water for 20 days, getting hydration from the food they eat.
- Mice are highly social creatures. They live together in a nest and cannot stand to be alone. They need companionship always, and they feel lonely and depressed when left alone, and get depressed when they lose a loved one.
- Rats are very inquisitive. They like to explore their surroundings. They climb whatever they can because of their curiosity. But then, they avoid confrontation and quickly scamper away when they sense danger.
- What made their species so successful - and a nightmare to household owners is that they reproduce quickly. In fact, they reproduce every three weeks. A rat can breed as early as their 5th week of existence.
Mice As Pests
Mice do considerable damages to wherever they go. They contaminate our food, bringing diseases to humans. The disease they spread include leptospirosis, rat bite fever, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and salmonellosis. They are also such nuisance, nibbling on paper, clothes, boxes, and books, rendering these useless. Of course, that is aside from them eating food meant for us humans and our pets, making them unsafe to consume. Some people also tremble at the sight of mice and can cause anxiety and restlessness. So you see, mice can really cause terrible damages on all fronts.
Walt Disney is also said to have credited his rise to fame to a single mouse. Disney is one of the very lucky few. For millions of people, the only things mice brought them are diseases, anxiety, and economic damages.
Mice Are Sometimes Used As Pets
Though it is not recommended that mice be kept as pets, some people enjoy having them and love to keep them as pets. If it were not for their diseases carrying qualities, mice are actually quite entertaining. Aside from being cute, mice are very intelligent creatures. They are more intelligent than rabbits, guinea pigs, and gerbils. They also have great memories, and just like dogs and cats, they remember and recognize their owners. Watching them play can be entertaining; they laugh when they play and giggle when they get tickled.
It is also important to note that some mice are also being bred in laboratories and are used for experiments. In a way, they have helped save millions of lives.
Signs Of Mice Infestation
You would know that your home is attacked my mice when you see droppings that look like little black pellets around the house. You may also see your old papers, boxes, your yearbook, and clothes with nibbled parts. Mice nests are made of shredded paper, and where else can they get them but from your important documents. Mice also produce a musky odor. And of course, when you spot a mouse somewhere inside your home, there are probably many more somewhere. Mice are nocturnal, meaning they go out only at night, but sometimes there are occasional sightings in during the day.
Disease Transmission
What makes mice so dangerous is because they are known to spread diseases. Some of the diseases they spread are the following:
- Leptospirosis - This is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Infection of humans can come from contact with urine from infected animals, including mice. Bacteria can enter through breaks in the skin. Symptoms of this disease include headaches, chills, muscle aches, high fever, vomiting, rashes, and jaundice or yellow skin and eyes.
- Plague - Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis.This disease exists because of rodents and their fleas. These rodents carry the fleas that carry the bacteria. This disease wiped out more than half of the world’s population during the 1400s, and the population would not recover until 2 centuries later. Though modern medicine has helped check the spread of disease, there are some still cases of the plague that are being reported in the United States.
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - This is a severe and at times fatal respiratory disease transmitted by rodents. This disease can be spread by inhaling dust that is contaminated by rat urine or dropping; or direct contact with mice droppings, or even through a rat’s bite. Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, dizziness. For late symptoms, there is coughing and shortness of breath. This disease could be fatal, so immediate care is of paramount importance.
- Salmonellosis - This can infect humans by ingesting food or water that is contaminated by mice droppings. This illness lasts from 4 days to one week. In some cases, diarrhea can be so severe that immediate care from healthcare providers may be needed. In most cases though, the illness resolves by itself and no treatment is needed. Persons with Salmonellosis have diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. In the United States, the Center for Disease Control estimates that food is the source of 1 million cases for this disease.
- Murine typhus - Symptoms for murine typhus include fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, stomach pain, and cough. This disease can be treated with antibiotics.
- Rat bite fever - Infection can occur from mice. Consuming food and water that are contaminated with mice urine and droppings can transmit this disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, rash, and joint pain and swelling. These symptoms usually appear after 3 to 10 days after being contaminated.
How To Control The Mice Population In Your Home
Seal off openings and cracks around your homes. Mice are so tiny that they can squeak into a hole with the size a nickel. These could be used as an entry point by these mice. Look for small gaps at your kitchen cabinets, or anywhere you think there could be holes they can squeeze into your house. Repair any damages to your roofs tiles too.
Clean around the kitchen, especially focusing on cooking areas and grill. If there are any food residue and spilled liquids, clean them off. Dispose of your trash regularly.
Try using traps. It is preferable to use snap- style traps. This would help to reduce the mice population. You may buy these traps at hardware stores near you. Read the instructions carefully before setting the trap, just to be safe. As bait, you can use peanut butter the size of a pea. Place the snap trap beside the wall. Mice crawl next to a wall, if you have noticed. This is their comfort zone and they feel uncomfortable to be out in the open.
Eliminate their food and water source. They forage for food at night while you sleep. Seal food inside plastic containers. Food stored inside cartons should be taken off the cartons and placed in plastic food containers. This will also prevent the mice from contaminating your food.
Regularly throw away your trash. Mice are fond of rummaging through your garbage for food, so disposing of your trash will greatly reduce their food source.
If you already have mice infestation, though, it may be best to call in the professional exterminators rather than doing the extermination yourself. There may be risks and dangers when doing it yourself, and besides, DIY’s do not ensure success. Mouse traps, for instance, are not as simple as it seems. Great care should be taken when setting these traps, and instructions should be read.
Call The Pest Experts
This is the reason why you should call in the best pest experts in Apex NC, Go-Forth Home Services Company.
Go-Forth Home Services Company has a team of highly skilled and well-trained professionals utilizing only the latest and most advanced equipment in the business. They also use family friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination, so you are assured of your family’s safety.
Go-Forth Home Services Company is a family owned business, earning the trust of residents and business establishments for more than 50 years.
For more inquiries, or to set an appointment, just call (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.