Mice are unwelcome intruders in any part of your home. However, the presence of mice in your kitchen can be a particularly upsetting dilemma. This, after all, is where you prepare and maybe even consume your food. But who are you sharing your titbits with? And how can you protect your sanctuary?
How Mice Enter Your Home
Mice are nocturnal creatures, preferring to keep hidden during the day and search for food from dusk till dawn. Mice are agile and are inquisitive creatures, able to use their flexible skeletons to squeeze into the tiniest spaces, so you need to be pragmatic and check a building for mice from the very top to the bottom, inside and out. Check out common signs of mouse activity you can look for in your property.
Mice are obviously unpleasant intruders. Nothing can ruin the ambience of a delightful dinner party more quickly than the sight of a well-fed mouse scurrying across the worktop with the entrée snack clasped in its jaw.
Because mice are indiscriminate eaters, no food is safe from them. Grain, seeds, fruits, chocolate and insects are all known to satisfy their appetites.
In addition to diminishing your food supplies, mice can damage wires and fabrics throughout the house. Don’t forget how strong and sharp those tiny teeth are!
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Risks of Rodent-borne Diseases
The most obvious risk caused by a mouse infestation is the spread of disease. They are known to carry salmonella, fleas and tapeworms, for example. They can also cause allergic reactions for some people as well, especially asthma suffers.
Remember how mice like to nibble on electric wires? This can also become a serious risk to your property as it could lead to electrical shorts and even fires.
How to Get Rid of Mice in the Kitchen
Okay, you’ve seen a mouse in your kitchen, and you’ve got all the screaming and jumping up on chairs out of the way. What next?
Mice will not leave on their own accord. You are going to have to take action in order to get rid of them. Surprisingly, one of the most effective ways of tackling a mouse infestation is one of the traditional solutions: mouse traps! Once you see evidence of mouse activity (eaten food; droppings; nibbled paper or fabrics; frayed wires), focus on this area. Set the traps according to the manufacturers’ instructions, and be sure to check (and replace them) regularly.
Where should you set the traps? Your first line of defence should be wherever you see evidence of mice. But also try to find the source of the problem. Where did the rodents build their nest? Once you locate the nest, set traps near all access points. If you are unable to locate the nest, consider seeking help from professional pest controllers.
If you find the thought of killing mice with traps unappealing, consider alternatives such as humane traps or sonic repellents. Be sure to assess their effectiveness, however. If you want to relocate live mice, release them far away from your property. Otherwise, they will simply come back in!
Don’t forget rodent-borne diseases that mice pose. Vacuum any droppings. Disinfect any areas that they have contaminated, and dispose of any affected food.
The most effective way to get rid of mice is to enlist the help of a professional exterminator.
A professional pest controller has a range of rodent control options available to help successfully remove rodents from your property, ensuring that the infestations don’t re-occur again.
Have a rat or mouse problem? Get in contact with Rentokil for expert advice on how to get rid of mice quickly.
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