Of all the pests homeowners in Austin face each year, house mice are among the most common home invaders and one of the most dangerous. Read on to discover all the ways mice can get into your Austin home and how to avoid a serious mouse infestation.
House mice can be responsible for a considerable amount of damage in Austin homes, both physically and financially. With their ruthless chewing and gnawing, house mice have one goal: survival. They will chew their way into your home and through your personal belongings, leaving behind a devastating amount of damage in their wake.
House mice are rodents that are grayish-brown in color with cream-colored underbellies. They have pointed muzzles and large ears. Their tails are often longer than their bodies, doubling their 2.5 to 3.75 inches in size. House mice are considered dangerous to humans due to the diseases they carry and the other hazards they cause in homes. House mice are known to carry many diseases that can be spread through contact with their urine and feces, such as leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (or LCM), tularemia, and salmonellosis.
Is Your Austin Home At Risk Of A Mouse Infestation?
If you’re wondering if your home is at risk of an infestation, the answer is yes. No matter how hard we try to deter mice from entering our homes, it eventually happens to all of us. Some of the factors that attract mice are food, water, and shelter, three things most people are unknowingly providing to house mice.
Mice only need a hole the size of a dime to gain access to your home, and they can chew through materials such as wiring, piping, plastic, and wood in their search for shelter. Because of their destructive nature, your home could also be at risk of potential fire or water damage.
Tips To Prevent Mice From Invading Your Home
If you suspect signs of mice in your home, it is already time to call in the professionals. Once your infestation is gone, it’s essential to learn how to avoid future mouse infestations. Here are a few tips to keep mice away from your Austin property:
- Keep pet food stored in airtight containers, and don’t leave it out when not in use.
- Keep trash sealed in a container with a tight-fitting lid and well away from the exterior of your home.
- Address moisture issues- fix leaky pipes and remove any standing water from the exterior of your home.
- Inspect the outside of your home regularly for areas where mice could gain easy access to your home. Seal up any entry points with caulking.
- Replace worn and torn screens and install weather stripping on doors and windows.
- Install caps on chimneys and vents.
- Keep food limited to living areas and always stored in airtight containers.
Remember, at the first signs of mice in and around your home, call our specialists at Accurate Termite & Pest Control.
When To Contact The Professionals At Accurate Termite & Pest Control
Though it may seem easy to get rid of mice by using inexpensive traps, the best way to rid mice is by contacting the rodent control professionals at Accurate Termite & Pest Control. Where there is one mouse, there is sure to be a small army of mice nearby. Killing mice one by one as you reset your trap is tedious and not the best way to rid mice for good from your Austin home.
At Accurate Termite & Pest Control, we have several residential pest control options to best suit your pest control needs. Call us today to decide which option is right for you!