Is there a mouse in the house?
It’s unpleasant to think about, but it can happen to anyone. Mice and other
rodents can make their way into your home in search of food, shelter and a
place to nest. Even if you think mice were cute in the movies, rodents can be
destructive and carry disease. Here are some smart steps to prevent and respond
to a rodent invasion.
Rodent prevention
Look at your home and yard from the perspective of a mouse and you will
likely see opportunities for them to enter and make themselves at home.
Look for holes. When you find them, whether they are inside
or outside your property, you’ll want to plug them with steel wool and patch
with cement. Remember, almost no opening is too small. Many pest-control
specialists say all a mouse needs is a quarter-inch opening.
Rethink your food storage practices. We all love buying in
bulk, especially when it comes to staples that come in large bags, such as dry
pet food. Unfortunately, if you store it in the sack it comes in, you’re pretty
much rolling out the welcome mat to mice and rats, who can sniff out an easy
food source. Instead, store the chow in a large container with a tight-fitting
lid.
Clean up your act. Store trash in closed containers with
tight lids and get your family members in the habit of cleaning up after
themselves when they're finished eating (wipe up spills and sweep crumbs).
Every month or so, pull out your kitchen appliances and clean up any spills or
morsels that are under and behind the refrigerator or oven.
Set out traps. Traps work especially well in the garage,
shed, basement, pantry and kitchen. Remember, rodents feel unprotected when
they venture out into open spaces, so the best place for a trap is next to
walls and enclosed areas where they’re likely to feel safe. Be sure and check
these traps regularly.
Dealing with rodents
Here are the classic signs that mice or other rodents have taken residence
in your home:
- small droppings
- shredded paper or other material that could be used as
nesting material
- signs of gnawing
- sounds of scratching and scampering, especially inside
walls
If you have the signs, set up your traps, or make sure existing ones have
fresh bait. Check these each morning, and wear rubber gloves during cleanup. If
trapping is not successful, it's time to call a professional pest control
company.
Be safe during cleanup
Once you are sure the rodents are cleared out and you took steps to seal
your entrances, it’s time to clean up. However, it’s important to protect yourself
or you could become ill. For example, rodents are sometimes carriers of a
serious respiratory disease called Hantavirus.
Humans can catch it from making contact with the urine and feces of infected
rodents.
Even if there isn’t a Hantavirus outbreak in your region, rodents are
potential carriers of nearly three dozen other diseases, so always take
precautions during cleanup to minimize your risk:
- Cross-ventilate the room for at least 30 minutes
before starting cleanup.
- Spray down infested areas with a bleach and
water solution to avoid inhaling the dust.
- Wear rubber gloves and a mask and use disposable
paper towels.
For more tips on safe cleanup in any room, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has plenty of additional information.
Next: How to prevent and get rid of ants
