Think you may have a mouse in your house? Here’s how to tell and how you can get rid of him (or them!).
How to Identify Mice
You may be wondering if you have mice or rats. While similar, mice are smaller than rats and less cautious. This makes them easier to identify and remove than rats. Their small size makes them more of a nuisance, though, since they can get through spaces as small as 1/4 inch. Mice are not picky eaters so it’s likely your home is providing them with a steady food source, which they usually search for at night. And because they breed often and can reproduce in less than 6 weeks, catching them early is key unless you want family of mice moving in. Another way to identify mice is by their droppings which are usually very small, black, and rod-shaped with pointed ends.
How to Get Rid of Mice
Because mice can fit through tiny spaces, eat almost anything, and are nocturnal creatures, they can be quite elusive and hard to get rid of. The quickest and most effective way to get rid of mice is with professional pest control. An experienced exterminator will know where to look for entry points around your home, identify nesting areas, current and potential food sources, provide the best plan of attack (which can include baits, traps, or a combination of both), and will give you recommendations for future mice prevention. If you’re noticing any of the following, call a pest control company today.
An unusual odor
Noises at night
Droppings
Gnawed areas
Tracks or tail marks in dusty areas
How to Prevent Mice from Returning
Excluding mice can be difficult with their ability to fit through small spaces and with a diet consisting of almost anything. Any gaps or holes around your home should be properly sealed. Common areas of entry are around vents, pipes, utility lines, doors, and windows. Next, you’ll want to eliminate food sources – take out trash daily, keep a clean home, clean up spills immediately, and store food & pet food in sealed containers.
Allow Kids to Create and Learn about Bugs with Critter Crafts
Christmas is a month away which means the kids will soon be getting out of school for Christmas break. During these days you’ll need to keep them occupied when they’re cooped up inside the house. Luckily, PestWorldforKids.org has got you covered with their Critter Crafts.
Critter Crafts are educational kid crafts that are creative bug inspired projects that are fun for kids…and even adults. You can keep kids occupied by creating ladybug hats, bumblebee bookmarks, mouse headbands, and lots of other fun creations.
It doesn’t stop at arts and crafts though, it also has some great ideas for some pest inspired snacks as well. Worms in dirt, celery and PB butterflies, and apple ladybugs are just a few of the delicious looking treats that they feature on their site.
PestWorldforKids.org offers a lot of entertaining games and learning tools for kids. Help your kids to learn about bugs and rodents…they are part of nature afterall!
The colder months are a time when pests, rodents, and other creatures make their way into homes and businesses for food and shelter. These pests can be a nuisance and sometimes even a health concern to your home.
If you’re wondering about a specific insect or rodent that you’re seeing you can find out more information at Northwest Exterminating’s Learning Center at callnorthwest.com.
Our Learning Center serves as a helpful tool to our customers that helps them to identify pests, learn about their habitats, and learn what the best solution is to get rid of them and prevent them from returning. You can also find out how at risk your home may be for termites. And our frequently asked questions page offers answers on some of the questions that we see and hear often from other customers just like you.
If there is anything that you would like to see on our Learning Center page, please feel free to tell us by filling out our “Ask the Mouse” section located on our site.
The EPA is banning 12 popular rat and mouse killers that are available to the public. They are banning the product after a 2011 ban requiring rodent-killing products to stop using anticlotting chemical. The company that makes these 12 products, D-Con, has refused to meet EPA regulations.
“In a move to protect children and pets from toxic chemical poisoning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making moves to ban 12 popular mouse- and rat-poisoning products sold under the D-Con brand name. Products included in the proposed ban include D-Con’s pellet, bait bits, and ready-mixed formulations.
EPA says it’s banning the products—as early as the end of February—because “they cause unreasonable and unnecessary risks to children’s health and the environment, without overriding benefits.”
To continue reading the article posted on www.rodale.com CLICK HERE.
The article and the EPA both suggest getting rid of rats and mice in non-poisonous ways such as sealing out pests, not leaving out food for pests to eat, making your yard less appealing to mice, and being kind!!
For pest control, the solution is simple: NorPest Green…Pest Control the way Nature Intended. Call Northwest Exterminating.
The EPA is banning 12 popular rat and mouse killers that are available to the public. They are banning the product after a 2011 ban requiring rodent-killing products to stop using anticlotting chemical. The company that makes these 12 products, D-Con, has refused to meet EPA regulations.
“In a move to protect children and pets from toxic chemical poisoning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making moves to ban 12 popular mouse- and rat-poisoning products sold under the D-Con brand name. Products included in the proposed ban include D-Con’s pellet, bait bits, and ready-mixed formulations.
EPA says it’s banning the products—as early as the end of February—because “they cause unreasonable and unnecessary risks to children’s health and the environment, without overriding benefits.”
To continue reading the article posted on www.rodale.com CLICK HERE.
The article and the EPA both suggest getting rid of rats and mice in non-poisonous ways such as sealing out pests, not leaving out food for pests to eat, making your yard less appealing to mice, and being kind!! For pest control, the solution is simple: NorPest Green…Pest Control the way Nature Intended. Call Northwest Exterminating.
