The beautiful weather of San Bernardino County and Riverside County happens within diverse landscapes are attractive to both humans and, unfortunately, mice. These tiny rodents can quickly become a big problem for homeowners, bringing with them the risk of disease, property damage, and general nuisance. Effective mouse prevention is key to keeping your Riverside or Redlands home rodent-free. There are common sense measures that you can take to reduce the chance you need to call Craig & Sons.

Why Inland Empire Homes Are Vulnerable

Our mild climate allows mice to thrive year-round. Unlike some other regions, we don’t experience harsh winters that naturally reduce rodent populations. This means consistent vigilance is crucial. Also, the abundance of food sources, from gardens and fruit trees to improperly stored pet food, provides ample sustenance for these opportunistic creatures. Furthermore, the close proximity of homes in many Inland Empire neighborhoods allows mice to easily travel between properties, making community-wide rodent control efforts even more effective.

Proactive Mouse Prevention Strategies

The best defense against mice is a good offense. Here are some proactive steps homeowners can take to prevent infestations:

• Seal Entry Points: Mice can squeeze through incredibly small openings. Thoroughly inspect your home’s exterior and interior for cracks, gaps, and holes. Pay close attention to areas around pipes, vents, windows, and doors. Use caulk, steel wool, or wire mesh to seal these potential entry points. Steel wool is particularly effective as mice cannot chew through it.
• Landscape Management: Keep your landscaping trimmed and tidy. Bushes, shrubs, and overgrown vegetation provide ideal hiding places for mice and can offer easy access to your home. Keep firewood stacked away from your house and regularly remove debris from your yard.
• Proper Food Storage: Store all food items, including pet food, in airtight containers. Don’t leave food out overnight and promptly clean up any spills. Be mindful of storing dry goods like grains, cereals, and pet food in secure containers, as these are especially attractive to rodents.
• Garbage Management: Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and dispose of trash regularly. Avoid letting garbage accumulate, as it provides a readily available food source for mice.
• Eliminate Water Sources: Fix any leaky pipes or faucets promptly. Standing water can attract mice and provide them with a necessary resource. Ensure proper drainage around your home to prevent water from pooling.
• Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of your home, especially in less frequently used areas like attics, basements, and garages. Look for signs of mouse activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks, or nests. Early detection is critical for effective mouse control.

When to Seek Professional Help

While DIY methods can be effective for minor infestations or preventative measures, a severe mouse problem often requires the expertise of our professionally trained rodent control team. If you’ve tried these preventative measures and are still experiencing a mouse infestation, or if the infestation is large, call us at 909-335-1486. We use specialized tools and techniques and exclusion methods, that can effectively eliminate the problem and prevent future occurrences. Our experts can also identify the source of the infestation and provide valuable recommendations for long-term mouse prevention.

By implementing these mouse prevention tips, Inland Empire homeowners can significantly reduce the risk of infestations and protect their homes from these unwanted guests. Consistent vigilance and proactive measures are the keys to maintaining a pest-free environment. Remember, a little prevention goes a long way in keeping your home protected and healthy.

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Mice and rats are more than just a nuisance in the Inland Empire; their presence in homes and businesses poses significant health risks. Rodent infestations can lead to the spread of various diseases, contaminate food and surfaces, and trigger allergies and asthma. Understanding these dangers is crucial for protecting yourself, your family, and your customers.

Disease Transmission: A Major Concern

Rodents are known carriers of numerous pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These pathogens can be transmitted to humans through several routes:

• Contaminated Food and Water: Rodents often contaminate food and water sources with their urine, feces, and saliva. This can lead to the spread of diseases like salmonellosis (food poisoning), leptospirosis (bacterial infection), and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
• Direct Contact: Handling rodents, their droppings, or nesting materials can also lead to infection. This is particularly relevant for diseases like rat-bite fever and tularemia.
• Airborne Transmission: Dust contaminated with rodent excrement can become airborne, allowing pathogens to be inhaled. This is the primary mode of transmission for hantavirus.
• Vector Transmission: Rodents can also carry fleas, ticks, and mites, which can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, murine typhus, and rickettsialpox.

Specific Health Risks

Here are some of the key health risks associated with rodent infestations:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): This severe respiratory illness is caused by hantaviruses, which are found in rodent urine, droppings, and saliva. Inhalation of contaminated dust is the primary mode of transmission. HPS can cause flu-like symptoms initially, progressing to severe respiratory distress and potentially death.
• Leptospirosis: This bacterial infection is spread through contact with water or soil contaminated with rodent urine. Symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness to severe kidney and liver damage.
• Salmonellosis: This common bacterial infection causes gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. It’s often contracted through consuming food contaminated with rodent feces.
• Rat-Bite Fever: This bacterial infection can be transmitted through bites or scratches from infected rats or through consuming food or water contaminated with rodent excrement. Symptoms include fever, rash, muscle pain, and joint pain.
• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM): This viral infection is carried by house mice and can be transmitted through contact with their urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials. LCM can cause flu-like symptoms, neurological complications, and even meningitis.
• Plague: While less common in modern times, rodents can carry fleas that transmit the bacteria responsible for plague.
• Allergies and Asthma: Rodent droppings, urine, and shed fur contain allergens that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in susceptible individuals. This can lead to respiratory problems, skin rashes, and eye irritation.

Risks of Rodent Infestation in Businesses

For businesses, especially those in the food service industry, rodent infestations can have devastating consequences. Contamination of food products can lead to product recalls, fines, and damage to reputation. Rodent droppings and gnaw marks on packaging can deter customers and lead to loss of business.

Prevention and Control:

The best way to mitigate these health risks is to prevent rodent infestations in the first place. Here are some key prevention strategies:

• Seal Entry Points: Seal any cracks, gaps, or holes in foundations, walls, windows, and doors.
• Maintain Cleanliness: Keep food preparation areas clean, store food in airtight containers, and dispose of garbage regularly.
• Proper Food Storage: Store pet food and other potential food sources in sealed containers.
• Landscaping Practices: Keep vegetation trimmed away from buildings and remove debris that could provide harborage for rodents.
• Professional Pest Control: If you suspect a rodent infestation, it’s crucial to contact a qualified pest control professional. They can assess the situation, identify the rodent species, and implement effective control measures.

Protecting Your Health:

Rodent infestations pose serious health risks that should not be ignored. By understanding these dangers and taking proactive prevention measures, you can protect yourself, your family, and your business from the potential consequences of rodent-borne diseases. Call Craig & Sons to schedule a free inspection of your home or office. Early intervention is key to preventing serious health issues.

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Pest activity is just about at its peak in and Inland Empire summer. The warm weather provides ideal breeding conditions for many insects and rodents, making effective summer pest control essential for protecting your home and property. Here are the five most frequently encountered summer pests in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and explains the advantages of a recurring pest control strategy for maintaining a pest-free property.

Top 5 Summer Pests in Southern California

1. Ants: Ants are highly active during the summer, foraging for food and water. They are attracted to sugary substances, crumbs, and pet food left outdoors. Common species in Southern California include Argentine ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants.

2. Cockroaches: Cockroaches thrive in warm, humid conditions. Summer heat accelerates their reproductive cycle, leading to rapid population growth. They seek shelter in dark, damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

3. Spiders: While spiders are present year-round, their populations tend to increase during the summer as insect prey becomes more abundant. Most spiders are harmless, but some, like black widows, can pose a health risk.

4. Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and summer rain or irrigation can create numerous breeding sites. They are not only a nuisance but also vectors for diseases like West Nile virus.

5. Fleas and Ticks: These external parasites thrive in warm weather and are often brought into homes by pets. They can cause discomfort for both pets and humans, and ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Why Recurring Pest Control is Essential for Summer

While a single pest control treatment can address an immediate infestation, recurring pest control provides consistent, long-term protection, which is especially crucial during the summer months. Here’s why:

• Continuous Prevention: Recurring services create a protective barrier around your property, preventing pests from entering in the first place. This proactive approach is far more effective than reacting to an existing infestation.

• Targeted Seasonal Treatments: Pest control professionals tailor their treatments to the specific pests prevalent during each season. In summer, they focus on controlling ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, using targeted methods and products.

• Early Detection and Monitoring: Regular inspections by trained technicians can identify early signs of pest activity before infestations become widespread. This allows for prompt intervention and prevents minor problems from escalating into major issues.

• Elimination of Breeding Sites: Professionals can identify and eliminate potential breeding sites for pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches, reducing their populations around your property.

• Reduced Pesticide Use: Recurring pest control emphasizes preventative measures and targeted treatments, minimizing the need for broad-spectrum pesticide applications. This is better for your family, pets, and the environment.

• Protection for Outdoor Activities: Summer is a time for outdoor activities, and recurring pest control helps ensure that your yard and outdoor spaces are free from pests like mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, allowing you to enjoy your time outdoors without worry.

• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your property is consistently protected by a professional pest control service provides peace of mind throughout the summer months, allowing you to relax and enjoy the season without the stress of pest problems.

Protecting Your Property This Summer

Summer pest control is a crucial investment for protecting your home and health. By opting for our recurring pest control services, you can create a pest-free environment and prevent the damage and health risks associated with summer pests. At Craig & Sons, we offer three tiers of service that will meet your prevention and budget needs. A proactive approach is always more effective and less costly than dealing with a full-blown infestation. Call and speak to a courteous member of our team today at 909-335-1486.

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There is a wide variety of mice, rats, and other rodents that call the Inland Empire home. Riverside and San Bernardino counties share the same types of environment including arid land, hills, and plenty of open space where rodents find room to live.

Here is list of the rodents in the Inland Empire and some general tips on how to keep some unwanted pests out of your property.

Common Species of Mice

The mice you’ll find in your home aren’t quite the same as Mickey who lives in Orange County. There are a few mouse species that will be found in our area. In most cases, they are seeking food, water, or a safe place to make a home. Species such as Bailey’s pocket mouse or the California pocket mouse are very common. They are related and have a few cousins as well.

All of them have the ability to stuff large amounts of food in their cheeks. They eat mainly seeds or grains but won’t be too picky if they find human food accessible. Strangely, these particular mice can be helpful to the environment because they distribute seeds from a variety of plants into new areas and help increase plant populations. They are all brown and can breed very quickly. These are nocturnal mice so you are very unlikely to see then scurrying during the day.

Common Species of Rats

Multiple rat species all Riverside and San Bernardino counties home. But they vary greatly. Some are the ugly, common brown rat (also called a Norway rat) with long snout and tail, while others are often mistaken for mice because they are so small and similar in shape.

One particular rat known to Inland Empire residents is the kangaroo rat, specifically the giant kangaroo rat. This species is endangered at the state and federal level.

The word “giant” is misleading. It is the largest of all 20 kangaroo rat species, but it grows no more than six inches in length. They live in ground burrows and are extremely social. They communicate with other members of their colony by drumming their feet on the ground in specific patterns. It is highly unlikely that you will encounter these rodents.

A Norway rat (brown rat or sewer rat) is far more common and likely to be what you find. They love to inhabit the same area as people.  These rats will make a home near trash cans or trash piles, along with areas of stacked wood. They can be six to 11 inches long and are very recognizable rodents.

If you don’t see them, you may hear them. They make a noticeable chirping sound. They don’t climb well so expect to see them or their droppings in areas along the ground, indoors or outdoors.

Gophers in the Inland Empire

If you see a gopher in the Inland Empire, it is likely to be a Botta’s pocket gopher. They are extremely common and can make burrows throughout a huge area of land within a matter of days. They are a neutral shade of brown like most desert-dwelling rodent species. The only environments they don’t enjoy are rivers and rocky areas.

Their diet consists entirely of plant matter including grasses and roots. This makes them a common destroyer of lawns, flower gardens, and produce gardens. They will spend approximately 90% of their lives in their burrows. We have very specific tools and treatment methods for gopher control so if you have any destroying your property, give us a call for a fast solution.

Common Squirrels

Anyone who has lived in the Inland Empire has seen squirrels. Parks, neighborhoods, and outdoor trail areas offer a wide variety of home options for squirrel species found in California. They come in a variety of shades of grey and live in and around trees.

As you may know, their diet consists of seeds, nuts, insects, and even eggs. But they will chew on many other things including electrical cables, crops, and even the wood of a building wall. Because they can be destructive and carry diseases such as rabies, they are not a good species to keep around a home.

Have a Rodent Problem?

If you suspect rodents are invading your home or office property, give us a call at 909-335-1486 or 951-530-1653 for a complimentary inspection. One of our expert technicians and take a look at your property, identify the pest, and give you a recommendation for treatment methods.

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Why did your DIY mouse control fail? You tried to save money to eliminate your rodent problem without help. But now they’re back – and have grown in numbers. Take a look at the reasons why your do-it-yourself pest prevention failed and how a professional can help.

The Wrong Bait

What type of bait attracts mice? If cheese is your answer, think again. Even though movies, cartoons, and TV shows may have popularized cheese as the mouse’s snack of choice, rodents don’t necessarily jump for this dairy option.

While mice will eat almost anything, they prefer grains, fruits, and nuts. With pest control trap bait, peanut butter, other types of nut butter (or hazelnut spread), and chocolate are the best options. If you did use a nut butter, seed, or similar mouse-friendly treat to bait the traps and your efforts still failed, a professional can:

Assess the bait . You possibly didn’t provide the right amount of bait or apply it in the correct way.

Prepare the bait . Human scent on a trap or bait can deter mice. The expert has the experience and know-how to avoid this extermination issue.

Provide another option . Some traps use a scent – and not the actual food. The pest control professional can evaluate the rodent issue and suggest a scented trap treatment plan if it applies to your home’s situation.

Even though incorrect bait use is a primary problem DIY pest controllers experience, it isn’t the only one. Read on for more information on potential mistakes and how to correct them.

The Wrong Trap

Several different mousetrap options are available. While they all work in some situations, the specific type you use should depend on your individual needs. If your mice are able to sneak food away without springing a trap or completely avoid your best efforts, call a professional.

The most common types of mousetraps include:

Spring traps . Spring, or snap, traps are inexpensive options that may not get you the results you want. As the name implies, these traps use a spring-loaded mechanism to snap down on the rodent. Failure to set or bait the trap correctly can leave you with a lingering pest problem.

Glue traps . These traps use scented glue (inside of a cardboard box) to catch mice.

Electronic traps . An electronic trap lures the rodent inside and delivers a lethal shock to stop your pest problem.

The wrong trap choice can waste money and time. Instead of a watch, wait, and replace approach, leave the trap selection to the professional. A pest control technician can recommend and install traps that meet your home’s needs.

The Wrong Placement

You have the right bait and the right trap. But you still have mice. What’s the problem? Chances are you have the wrong placement. Where you put the trap is a key piece of the pest control puzzle.

Trap placement problems may include:

Constant movement . Did you place the trap and then move it a few hours later? Mice are wary of traps (and other strange objects). Give the mice time to adjust to the sight of the trap.

Open area arrangement . Mice shy away from open areas. If you place the trap in a spacious place, you may not attract rodents. Walls and concealed areas are typically the best options.

Too few traps . Did you place enough traps to handle your pest problem? If you’re not sure, a pest control technician can evaluate the issue and recommend the right number of traps for your home’s space.

The pest control professional can also help you to place traps that won’t interfere with your family’s daily life. This helps to ensure the safety of your children, other family members, and pets during the extermination process.

Do you need professional help with your pest problem? Contact Craig and Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc., for more information.

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Think you have a pest problem? It is fairly easy to determine if mice, rats, or bats are inhabiting your home; their droppings and the noise will indicate if your home is infested. Take care of the issue swiftly and effectively with a pest control professional to prevent the property and health damage that an infestation can cause. 

Mice

If you spot a mouse in your home, you may already have an infestation. Mice carry diseases as well as fleas and ticks; their urine and droppings can cause respiratory illness with prolonged exposure. If you suspect you have a mouse (or more) in your house, don’t delay calling an exterminator- mice can reproduce very quickly!  

The best ways to prevent a mouse sighting from becoming an infestation are:

• Clean your home thoroughly. Get rid of any food, trash, or debris that could be attracting mice.
• Seal cracks around windows and doors. Use caulking or wads of steel wool to deter mice from gaining entry.
• Pick up and cover your pets’ food dishes at night. Prevent your pet food from becoming a food source for pests.

Talk to your exterminator about the most humane way to rid your home of mice quickly.

Rats

There are a few stages to successful rat removal: inspect, seal, trap, and listen. The key to getting rid of rats is to first seal any and all points of entry and trap later-on. There is no point in wasted efforts trapping rats when you leave holes and gaps for them to continue to enter the home.

Don’t believe the hype about holistic tactics like mothballs or ammonia getting rid of rats; seal your cracks, crevices, and call an exterminator.

Other Rodents

There are a lot more rodents to be concerned with than mice and rats; the rodent family includes other gnawing mammals that can easily gain access, infiltrate, and infest your home and yard this summer. Some rodents to watch for include:

• Squirrels
• Porcupines
• Voles
• Gophers
• Beavers

Even if these rodents don’t gain access inside your home, they can wreak havoc outside gnawing, chewing, and digging around your property. Call a professional exterminator for help.

Bats

Brown bats are quite common in homes across the nation. They are typically found in barns or attics, as they nest where it is dark and sheltered. Bats live in colonies of 20 to several hundred, so if you see one in your attic or crawlspace, you could have a lot more. Bats can carry rabies and may attack when under stress, so don’t try to remove bats without the assistance of a pest control professional.

Keeping bats out of the home is easier than getting rid of them:

• Seal up any cracks or gaps. Openings could provide entry to bats. Use caulking to seal up anything bigger than a half-inch.
• Screen in your pool and outdoor living area. Outdoor structures could also provide refuge for bats.
• Rid your attic of bats. If you notice bats taking up residence on your porches or decks, it could indicate that they are also inside the home. . If you remove the ones indoors, the ones outside will move on.
• Trap bats during the day. Bats are most active at night. During the daytime, they are often hanging around sleeping; this is key when trapping bats.

Remember that time is of the essence when it comes to pests. The faster you call an exterminator or wildlife removal expert and address the issue, the less likely there will be a full-blown infestation.

Seeing the signs of rodents or bats? Call the pest control specialists at Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc to prevent pest problems fast. An infestation can occur quickly; call the pest professionals today.

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The mild weather in Southern California makes survival and reproduction easy for rodents, including mice. Humans typically worry about disease and damage to their homes and gardens when mice are present. The concerns are genuine, but not all mice are problematic. Learn what types of mice live in Southern California and what behavior to expect from these creatures.

The Pocket Mouse

The term pocket mouse describes dozens of types of mice that have external fur-lined pouches on their cheeks for carrying food. These small mice eat nuts, plants, and seeds and also carry seeds back to their burrows in their cheek pouches. Pocket mice actually help the environment because they boost the growth of native plants by burying the seeds they collect.

Animal conservationists completed a breeding program in 2016 to help increase the numbers of the Pacific pocket mouse in California. The zoology group raised and reintroduced to the wild several colonies of pocket mice once thought extinct. The hope is that the mice can help to improve plant growth that will create more natural habitat for other wildlife.

The Kangaroo Mouse

The kangaroo mouse is a bipedal rodent that grows to about three inches in length. This small mouse prefers desert ecosystems where it forages for vegetation. Kangaroo mice need very little water and will survive on insects as well as seeds and plants if needed. People often see the mice in Nevada, but they do exist throughout the Southwest in areas with sandy soil, including California.

Kangaroo mice do not typically cause problems for property owners because they tend to live in dry, arid areas of the state. Some people confuse them with their relative, the kangaroo rat. Some breeds of kangaroo rats have been a pest problem for California residents.

The House Mouse

The house mouse is a prolific breeder, an agile climber, and a disease carrier. The mice have large ears, are brown or gray, and can grow to seven inches in length from nose to tail. Houses, farmlands, and commercial buildings all fit the needs of the potentially destructive creature. If you spot this mouse, remove it as soon as possible.

House mice chew insulation, paper, and other soft materials to use for nests. The pests can spread diseases like salmonella and rat bite fever. The house mouse presents a serious infestation risk because they can breed all year when they shelter inside. Each female can produce up to 60 babies per year, and the babies become adults in less than three months.

The California Mouse

Mating with one partner for life is unusual in rodents, and that is what makes the California mouse unique. Once this rodent chooses a mate, it stays loyal throughout its life. The mouse can produce six litters each year with a maximum of three babies per litter. Females take about three months to mature, while males take slightly longer.

The California mouse prefers to live in outside shelters, usually woodrat houses alongside the woodrats. The mouse lives off a diet of seeds and vegetation and can climb trees and shrubs. This mouse is an important food source for many natural predators. California mice rarely enter human homes but can be destructive to gardens. The mice also sometimes carry the Hantavirus.

Many mice play an important role in the ecosystem, but when homeowners want destructive pests off their property, that is understandable. At Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc. , we identify the species of pest first to ensure a fast and reliable removal process. Contact us today for an estimate or an inspection. We’re ready to help you.

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Musophobia, the fear of mice and rats, is one of the most common fears among humans. People with the phobia often worry about the dangers associated with these creatures infesting their homes and spreading disease. The phobia can sometimes make people a little too fearful, but everyone should have some concern when they see a mouse in their home.

It is better to become educated than to succumb to the over exaggerated hysteria that Musophobia can cause. Keep reading to learn some basic facts about the common house mouse so you can understand what to look for and how to manage a suspected rodent infestation.

Prevention is Possible

Mice can squeeze through some pretty small spaces to enter a home. Common entrance areas include the gaps around drainage pipes, vent openings, and doors and windows. A mouse only needs a hole as large as their skull, which is the broadest part of their skeletal system. And some very tiny mice exist, so keeping them out can be a challenge. However, prevention is possible, and there are several things a homeowner can do.

Homeowners can hire a home inspector who will detect and cover all gaps big enough for a mouse on the exterior of their home. Other deterrents, like a lack of available food and a debris-free yard, will also make the home much less appealing to mice. For some homeowners, annual or semi-annual visits from a pest service may be necessary if their home is in an area with a high volume of mice.

Mice Breed Quickly

A big mistake many homeowners make is to wait to call a pest service because they’ve only seen one mouse. But mice can breed when they’re as young as a month old, and their breeding season lasts all year. The gestation period for mice is about three weeks long and litters can have as many as a dozen babies. The babies will also begin to breed in a few weeks. 

Safety Issues Will Develop

The CDC lists seven diseases present in the United States that can pass from mice to humans. Surprisingly, rabies is not on that list. The rabies virus rarely occurs in any small rodents(even rats), and there are few, if any, reported cases involving the transmission of rabies from a mouse to a human.

Homeowners should not sweep or vacuum droppings. Stirring up droppings may make any diseases airborne. The CDC recommends to spray a disinfectant on the droppings and allow the solution to soak for several minutes. Proper removal in a sealed bag and enclosed garbage can will prevent further contamination.

Repairs May Be Needed

A professional pest removal is only the first step a homeowner should take after an infestation.

The natural tendency mice have to chew up anything available for nesting material means they often cause damage to appliances, vehicles, and houses by chewing the insulation from electrical wiring. The possibility of a house fire due to this behavior is the biggest risk for occupants of a home. Homeowners should call an electrician and have them check the house and replace any damaged wiring.

Visit a mechanic as well if the mice were in a garage. Homeowners will need to remove soiled insulation and any nesting materials in the area where the mice roamed. It’s vitally important to sanitize any surfaces where the mice may have traveled, including furniture and countertops.

At Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc, we work quickly to get control of pest infestations. If you see signs of a mouse in your home, contact us for an inspection as soon as possible. 

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Think mice have moved into your home? Though the signs of a rodent infestation begin subtly, it is not difficult to identify a rodent problem once your home is infested. If you see the signs of rodents, there are things you can do to resolve the issue.

Look for Signs

There are many signs to alert you that you have a rodent infestation. These signs include:

• Droppings . Keep a watchful eye for droppings, especially along walls and on counters. Mouse droppings are relatively small, usually the size of a grain of rice. Rat droppings are significantly larger.
• Greasy spots . Because mice don’t see very well, they tend to travel along walls. This travel pattern may result in sticky, greasy, and dirty spots or streaks along their path.
• Food piles . If you notice small piles of food, bread, or pet kibble in spots that it doesn’t belong, you could have mice. They often create a stash of edibles to take to nests later on.
• Gnawing . Mice chew on things, so if you notice holes in clothing, toys, or bedding, you could have a problem. Mice tend to go for places where there are piles of things that can be used for nests, such as your clothes closet, hampers, and laundry baskets.
• Sounds. Mice are noisy. You can hear them make the most noise at night when it is quiet. Listen for shuffling, scratching, and scrambling sounds in your walls, ceilings, or closets.
• Nests . Mice make nests from whatever they have access to; look for piles of gnawed materials in corners and crevices. Clean out corners, closets, and cupboards to remove any possible nesting spots.
• Odor . If you have a mouse problem, you may notice a foul smell from their waste. Because rodents don’t smell good, you may also notice an unpleasant odor around your home.
• Daytime Sightings . If you begin to see mice during the daytime, it is time to act. Mice usually do most of their running around at night, so frequent daytime sightings is something to react quickly to.

These signs may not all be present, but you will often notice or be able to spot more than one of these signs if you have a rodent problem.

Act Quickly

Fast response is key to preventing an isolated mouse sighting from turning in to an infestation. Mice breed rapidly, and it is not unusual for one female mouse to have ten litters per year, each litter averaging six to eight babies; this equates to a big mouse problem in no time at all if left unaddressed.

Take Proactive Steps

Mice won’t just decide to move out one day; you must strongly encourage them to move on. Clean up and get rid of their scent as much as you can. Keep food tightly packaged, dishes out of the sink, and counters clean to deter rodents. Pick up pet dishes at night and cover them to prevent mice from grabbing a midnight snack.

Get Some Traps

If you are going to be proactive about preventing an infestation, you will need traps. These come in a variety of styles, and can be more or less humane. Electronic mousetraps are a relatively clean and convenient way to quickly kill a mouse that ventures in the enclosed box-style trap. Snap-traps are far cheaper, though they require a bit more care and maintenance to be effective.

Be Vigilant

Since mice reproduce so quickly, you will need to continue to look for and address your mouse problem even after you have caught the suspected culprits. Continue to set traps and keep a clean house to deter any further rodent activity.

Contact the Experts

If you want to make the process of getting rid of pests easier, reach out to the experts for help. Mice can transmit disease, and prolonged exposure to their droppings can cause respiratory illness. It is tough to get a good night’s sleep when you hear the sounds of mice moving in. To prevent these and other problems, call an exterminator.

Make the situation easier on yourself and sleep better at night by calling the exterminator. Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc. will provide a solution to your rodent problem quickly, conveniently, and effectively.

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