Winter Mice problems in London
Posted on 5th October 2021 by Pest Protect
Mice control London in winter time
The return of winter means the winter mice problems in London. Which means you’ll be spending more time in your home, but you won’t be the only one seeking shelter. As temperatures drop, mice and rats head indoors to search for food, and they might pick YOUR house for their new residence.
These pesky pests invade your home in a variety of crafty ways. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil, while rats can fit through a hole the size of a 10p pence. “They’ll seek cracks and crevices in the foundation and crawl space.
Rats and mice are both strong swimmers and have even been known to swim through sewer lines or climb vertically up drain pipes to enter homes.
The two most common rodents in London homes are the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). They live in all regions of the country, but rats are more prevalent in urban and rural areas, while mice are more common in suburban areas.
The house mouse is usually brown or gray and can grow up to a few inches in length. Rats vary in color from brown, to reddish-grey to black, and have a long tail. Norway rats on average will grow to about 16 inches in length. They’re both color blind and have poor eyesight. They rely on their sense of smell, taste, sound and touch to find food.
How do I get rid of mice?
Aside from physically seeing the critters in your home, most people realize they have a rodent problem after noticing droppings, evidence of nesting, gnaw marks on doors and furniture, or damage to packaged foods and dry goods.
Mice and rats leave dark brown or black droppings in their walking path, around food sources and nesting areas. The droppings are granular in shape and can range from ¼ of an inch to 3/8 of an inch. You can gauge the extent of the infestation by the number of droppings you find.
Another sign of rodent activity is greasy tracks along the floor, or footprints and tail tracks in dusty areas, especially along walls.
Rodent activity increases after dark, so you might have more luck looking at night. Listen for squeaks, movement and unexplained sounds coming from behind your walls.
One of the main reasons mice and rats take up residence in homes is due to the abundance of food. Mice prefer grains so you’re likely to notice tears, rips and bite marks to bags of rice and cereal. Rats will eat just about any type of food, and they’re likely to scatter food about as they eat. Rat teeth grow at a rate of 5 inches per year so they constantly gnaw to prevent their teeth from growing too large, which would ultimately lead to starvation.
How do I get rid of Rats and Winter Mice Problems?
Rats tend to scatter food around as they eat.
The gnawing can cause considerable damage to your home. Rodents have been known to chew on things like wires, PVC piping, furniture, bricks and anything made of wood. In some cases, rodents have started house fires from chewing through electrical wires.
The greatest threat mice and rats pose to humans, however, is contact with disease and bacteria transmitted through rodent droppings and bites.
“If the population gets out of control, one of the biggest dangers is the feces and urine,Exposure to rodent droppings can transmit serious illnesses. Such illness as hantavirus, salmonella and leptospirosis. Rodent bites can transmit plague, rat-bite fever or infection. Wilkes says she’s even heard of people getting sick from drinking out of contaminated soda cans that were stored in an area infested by mice.
Winter Mice Problems
The good news is you can take back your home, either by plugging holes and setting traps or hiring Pest Protect professional pest control service. Winter Mice can be a problems.
Pest control experts say you should evaluate the exterior of your home twice a year for new holes or gaps where rodents can enter. You want to look for cracks in the foundation, gaps around doors and windows and where the gutters connect to the fascia board.
“Rodents can chew through anything that isn’t galvanized or copper.” Pest Protect recommends using caulk, galvanized flashing or copper mesh to plug entry points.
However, once you’ve secured the exterior of your home, you can start the removal process.
How to get rid of mice in the house
Bait boxes contain a rodenticide that kills the mouse or rat in a few days. The boxes shelter the poisonous rodenticide and keep it out of reach of children and pets. You should place bait boxes in areas where you’ve seen rodent activity, and in their natural walking paths like along walls or in corners. Winter Mice problems are common. Give us a call.
And, you should also make an attempt to take away the food supply. Don’t leave food out on the kitchen counter, and make sure all dry goods and grains are stored in sealed, secure containers.
For large infestations, or if rodents simply make you squeamish, consider hiring a pest protect. Our company will inspect your exterior for entry points. We will make improvements and come up with a removal plan that meets your specific needs. Call us to remove you winter mice problems.
For more information, and tips on hiring us, visit www.pest-protect.co.uk or call us on 02089457231
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