This week we’re looking at the subject of mice.
Did you know each part of the mouse breeding cycle takes typically around 21 days?
That’s around 3 weeks for gestation, around 3 weeks for weaning and a further 3 to 3 and a half weeks for developing to maturity.
Mouse fact number 1:
Mice typically survive for less than a year in the wild.
But how many babies do mice produce?
On average between 5 and 7 pups but it can be up to 12. A female can become pregnant almost immediately after giving birth which is one reason why an infestation of mice can rapidly become out of control. That means females can produce between 5 and 10 litters a year. 120 mice from one female is a lot of mice!
Mouse fact number 2:
Mice are colour blind. Their other senses make up for this though – they have an acute sense of hearing and they use their whiskers to sense temperature changes and surface textures.
Mouse fact number 3:
Mice are nocturnal and are great at climbing, jumping and swimming – contenders for the rodent Olympics!
Mouse fact number 4:
Mice can squeeze through any gap into which they can fit their head – around 5mm. And the reason they can do this is that they have flexible ribs! Unlike rats, mice make multiple trips at night to various food sources which can make it difficult to control them with toxic bait. This differs from rats who will gobble up one food source.
Preventing Mice
Proof, proof, proof! Seal your entry points. This can be quite difficult with mice – remember how we said they can squeeze through a hole 5mm in diameter? That’s equivalent to the end of a bic biro! Start with low level gaps first and then move to higher entry points.
Take particular care around areas like pipes, windows, doors and cellars or basements as we often find these are common entry points for mice. If you gap under a door is larger than 4mm then install a door brush strip.
Take a good look around the exterior of your property for potential nesting sites. This means cutting back any overgrown areas and clearing debris. Keep your garden clean and tidy. Do the same in your cellar, basement and loft!
Check household waste is tidied away into sealed bins and that your rubbish is collected or removed regularly. Don’t forget about your compost heap either – make sure you have a suitable cover.
Clear and wipe down surfaces in your house – don’t give mice a food source. Put unused food away into sealed containers. Encourage your teenagers to clean their rooms regularly and to empty their bins. A teenager’s room is often the place that used crockery and food crumbs are found so important to try to train your teenager!
As the British Pest Control Association says, “Whilst good hygiene won’t eliminate a mouse problem, poor practices will attract them.”
How to get rid of Mice
If you do have a mouse problem, we recommend contacting a professional fully qualified pest controller. You can adopt some DIY mouse control methods but, in our experience, these rarely work effectively.
If you do want to have a go at your DIY mouse control, then make sure you read the label on any amateur use poisons and traps you buy. And, when placing traps or poison make sure that you place them in a safe and secure place out of the reach of children and pets and any other non-target species.
However, the best way to deal with a mouse problem is to give your local Hereford Pest Control a call. PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford is fully trained in handling mice infestations.
We have access to a range of professional mice control treatments that are not available to the general public. PGM & Son Pest Control technicians are trained to know how much, where and when to use mouse control treatments. And, we have access to monitoring equipment to enable us to determine possible entry points, size of infestation and to track mice to their nest.
At PGM & Son Pest Control, we operate an Integrated Pest Management approach meaning that we will work with you to advise you on how to reduce your risk of attracting mice in future.
For all your pest control needs, give PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford a call on 01981 251116 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat.
If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or you can use the live chat facility on our website.
