House mice are pests Denton homeowners may encounter, along with homeowners elsewhere across the United States. But even though these animals are on the smaller side, they will quickly become a Texas-sized problem if their presence isn't dealt with promptly and correctly.
House mice measure roughly five to eight inches in length and are typically a dusty gray with a white abdomen, though they can vary from light brown to dark gray.
Read on for more about house mice's dangers to Denton homeowners and why house mice are so challenging to eradicate.
Are House Mice Dangerous?
Though they are small and quiet, house mice pose several dangers to homeowners, including health and safety risks.
Health Risks
Mice certainly aren't considered neat pests. When they enter a home, they leave behind their feces and urine everywhere, which is one of the ways they spread diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. When house mice urinate in the home and build their nests, tiny droplets are expelled into the air, which makes the diseases they carry airborne. This puts house residents and guests in danger of contracting them. House mice urine and feces left in hard-to-reach places, such as the void between walls, will dry and turn to dust over time, at which point bacteria can also become airborne and breathed in by those nearby. If house mice have access to the homeowner"' food, their risk of contracting a mouse-carrying disease is even greater.
Safety Risks
Include the nesting behaviors of house mice, their tendency to defecate throughout the home, and their constant gnawing. The teeth of house mice constantly grow at a rate of 0.03 centimeters a day and place your home at risk of severe damage. Mice can cause damage to wooden structures and furniture, which, depending on the extent of the infestation, can require major out-of-pocket repairs. House mice are also known to chew on the insulation around electrical wiring, posing a fire hazard. House mice will also use whatever materials are available to them to build their nests, including clothing, paper and documents, cardboard boxes, and books. They will burrow just about everywhere, from inside of upholstered furniture to seats in cars. If any valuable items are exposed, such as family heirlooms or paintings, mice can damage them beyond repair.
Why Are Mice So Difficult To Get Rid Of?
There are a few reasons why house mice are so difficult to get rid of.
Here are two:
- House Mice Are Highly Skilled: Mice may be small, but their survival skills certainly aren't. These pests can flatten their bodies to fit through a hole the circumference of a pencil. And though they have poor vision, they have heightened senses of smell, touch, and hearing and can jump to heights up to seven times the length of their bodies and scale vertical surfaces up to 6.5 feet high.
- They Reproduce At A Fast Rate: A female mouse can produce up to 30 offspring a year, meaning that even if a few mice have entered your home, the population can double or triple in size overnight.
To Get Rid Of House Mice For Good, Call The Professionals
Even though efforts such as setting traps can help reduce the number of mice, they won't successfully eradicate an existing infestation. For total mouse and rodent control in Denton, contact the professionals at Mayco Pest & Termite Control. As a local and family-owned, full-service pest control business, we offer comprehensive rodent and wildlife control services and tailor our treatments to the homeowner's needs.