Mice and Their Control

There is a popular perception that mice, unlike their larger cousins the rats, are harmless -- or even cute. That they are commonly depicted as such in movies, cartoons, and comic strips just adds to their cuddly reputation.

The reality is that mice are filthy animals who transmit disease, and their gnawing causes millions of dollars in property damage -- as well as some lost lives -- every year. Mice do not belong in houses or other buildings occupied by humans. Period.

Let's look at some stark realities about mice:

• Mice contaminate our stored foods their shed hair, droppings, urine, and other filth.

• Mice are are known to transmit many serious diseases including food poisoning, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, lyme disease, murine typhus, and the arenaviruses.

• Mice gnawing on electrical wiring cause numerous fires every year, as well as numerous outages in telephone, computer data, and other communications networks.

Maybe they're not so cute and harmless, after all .

Mouse Biology

Mice are small, slender, timid animals. They have keen senses of smell, hearing, balance, and scent, but they don't see all that well. They tend to travel by feeling their way along vertical surfaces like walls, and they seek out small holes and secluded areas where they will be safe from predators. Mice can also travel along suspended wires, pipes, and other narrow walkways, can climb vertical surfaces, can swim when necessary, and can jump impressive heights for such a small animal.

Mice are herbivores by nature and prefer plant-based foods. They're particularly fond of cereal grains, chocolate, nuts, fruits, and foods made from these items. They also will eat pet food and animal feed (especially those made with cereal-based fillers and binders), plant and lawn seeds, and some houseplants. Although they don't require free water in their diets, they will drink it if it is readily available.

Signs that You Have a Mouse Problem

Because mice are small, timid, and secretive, quite often we see evidence of a mouse problem before we see the mice themselves. Most commonly, mouse droppings, nesting materials, or evidence of their gnawing are the first visible signs of a mouse infestation.

Like rodents in general, mice have extraordinary reproductive capabilities. If you don't take care of a mouse problem while it's still small, chances are you'll have a big mouse problem not very far in the future.

Getting Rid of Mice

The old adage about getting rich by "building a better mousetrap" isn't far from the truth. Humans have been trying to rid their homes, barns, and businesses of mice for thousands of years; and there have been hundreds of products invented to control mice.

Buckingham Pest Control solves each mouse problem individually. Depending on the situation, our methods may include consultation about sanitation and exclusion, trapping, baiting, or other types of rodenticide products. In many cases, a combination of several methods may be used; and in some cases, both interior and exterior treatments will be needed.

Choosing the Right Exterminator

If you're having problems with mice or have seen evidence of mice, please contact us to speak to a professional exterminator and receive an individual assessment and professional recommendations for eradicating your mouse infestation. Buckingham Pest Control serves the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area.