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How to spot an infestation

The house mouse is the most common mouse to be found in domestic situations.
The most common way to detect mice is to see them or their droppings, or hear them. They are particularly active at night.

They will build a nest out of any available material, but often this will be in a place that you will not be able to check easily, such as below floor boards or in wall cavities or lofts.
These nests have a distinctive smell.
You can discover their presence through seeing grease smears on running boards, finding droppings or gnaw marks, or by hearing gnawing or scuttling behind the wall.
Mice will live in any situation in which their needs for food, shelter and water are met.
The best way to deal with mice is to discourage them before they establish a breeding colony in your home.

Mice will cause damage to your home and breed very rapidly.
Mice are the carriers for disease, and can spread this contamination to every surface in your home.
They ruin far more food than they eat, through gnawing and leaving droppings. Up to 5% of food worldwide is destroyed by rodents.
They can damage vital and expensive parts of your home, such as electrics and wall or loft insulation. Damaged wiring is a major cause of house fires and is unlikely to be easily spotted or fixed.
Mice burrow holes in walls and cupboards, and pull up carpet. This can also be difficult and expensive to repair.

Above all, mice need food, but not much. 3 grams of solid food will feed a mouse for a day. They eat mainly grain, but will eat anything, including soap and candlewax if nothing else is available. Keep food out of reach from gnawing mice; don't leave food out unnecessarily and check for damage to packets or cupboards. Mice are often attracted by ill-stored refuse. Thin bags provide an easy meal for rodents. Your bin bags are best kept in a secure shed or bin.
Mice need shelter, so protect your home by keeping it in good repair. Ensure mice cannot access your property through pipes or small cracks by filling these or covering them with fine-mesh wire netting. Keep your garden rodent free by having compost heaps in order, secure sheds, and plants cut back. Mice can access lofts by climbing creepers on a wall, and even rough brickwork.
Mice do not need much water. All but the driest foods supply their water needs already, but they will need some form of water supply. This will often mean going out to the garden on a regular basis.
Proofing your house against invasion will help reduce the appeal of your home to mice.

If you suspect that your or any other property has become infested with mice, contact us as we provide a domestic pest control service.

The pest technician will survey the area and make follow up visits to make sure that the mice are eliminated.

You may wish to take steps to discourage the mice yourself. You can buy traps and poison from your local hardware shop.

Always seek advise if you are not confident with poison or traps. Always read the instructions before using any pest control device or poison.