If you want to keep mice out of your home, prepare a few simple tools. Take a torch and follow the list below to identify possible areas where mice can sneak into. You might also have to go to a home improvement store for items to seal any holes you discover. For your information, mice can easily pass through even narrower holes and be as small as a quarter of an inch. It goes with reason that if they can get their head through, the rest of their body can follow suit. This is why it is often possible to overlook such insignificant entry points as are often present in this case. You can also get professional help from Pest Control in Damascus.
What You’ll Need
You should do certain things before attempting to get rid of the mice or rodents in your home. Here are some main signs to look for:
- Flashlight: To help you see small gaps and cracks
- Weatherstripping: Seals doors and windows tightly
- Steel wool or aluminum mesh: Blocks holes and prevents chewing
- Exterior caulking: Seals larger gaps
- Wood putty: Fills holes in wooden surfaces
- Talcum powder or flour: Helps reveal any footprints
Checking for Mouse Activity
- Footprints: Place a handful of talcum powder or flour on the floor. Just wait and see for the tiny footprints. Mice tracks will also be characterized by four or five toes on the front paws.
- Droppings: They are small and blackish and are usually left behind by the mice. New droppings are moist, while the older ones have slightly turned into fecal matter that has a solid characteristic. If there are many droppings, there are many cases of a specific disease.
- Rodent teeth imprint: These are left behind after mice come into contact with wooden surfaces, walls, and furniture. They have small and clean notches, unlike those made by rats, whose biting patterns are jagged.
- Burd: These can be seen near bushes or foundations, where shovel-wielding rodents create small mounds of soil. Mice make rather shallow burrows near structures, sometimes even under them.
- Grease marks: These are more or less like dirt stains but are specific to areas where mice are known to travel, such as beams, pipes, or rafters.
- Urine stains: A UV lamp can alert you to these and help you easily notice the main rodent activity.
- Reaction to rats: If pets are involved, they might change their behavior when they hear or smell the rodents.
Sealing Entry Points Outside
The first thing you could do is take a tour around your house to check the exterior of your house. You should block any holes you come across because they might give mice easy access to your home. Here are some areas that you start with:
- Walls and floors
- Foundation and basement windows
- Garage doors – Mice can squeeze through small cracks in garage doors.
- Attic vents and chimneys
Think Like a Mouse
You must remember that mice are naturally small and flexible when looking for less-explored areas.
Checking Pipes, Vents, and Cables
Look for gaps around pipes, vents, and cables where they enter your home. Mice chew on these areas, which provide easy entry. Also, check the foundation for cracks or crumbling mortar, which can let mice in.
Blocking Entry Points with Steel Wool and Caulk
Once you find the entry points, block them. Steel wool works well for small holes since mice can’t chew through it. Push steel wool into gaps, like floorboard cracks or around windows, and seal with caulk.
Conclusion
If you hear scratching in walls or see mice, act quickly. Mice can damage wiring, which may cause fires and carry diseases. Contact an exterminator if necessary.