Mice

Mice are much smaller than rats, but they do a lot of damage.  They destroy food, books, furniture and even appliances with their gnawing, urine and droppings.  They are thought to be the number one cause of unexplained house fires.  Worse, mice in the home have been linked to a number of serious human diseases including asthma and Hantavirus.

You might not see mice out in the open but you can probably hear them after dark.  Mice are most active at night.   Pets will sometimes paw at walls and cabinets where mice are hiding.  Watch for mouse droppings and nests in storage areas, such as garages and basements. Nests are usually made of materials like bits of cloth or shredded paper.

The white-footed mouse (also known as field mice or deer mice) is the mouse we most often encounter in New England. They are prolific breeders.  Females have 2-6 young per litter and 2-4 litters per year.  They will live 2-3 years in the wild. Because of their small size, they can fit through crevices a little larger than 1/4 inch wide, making them hard to control. They will invade structures at any time of year so control efforts need to be consistent.

Effective control strategies include Exclusion (sealing up entry points), Trapping and Interior / Exterior Baiting.

Managing food sources such as spilled pet food and bird seed and utilizing solid, sealable containers will greatly assist control efforts.