How Mice Get Into Waltham Homes
1/15/2021
Imagine for a second that your job is to break into a building made completely out of concrete. There are no windows, all of the doors are made out of metal, and have multiple locks. How hard would it be to get inside? Now, what if large sections of the walls were made of cardboard? This would make your job a lot easier, correct?
Although this seems like a silly picture, it does a good job of showing how easy invading homes is for mice. Although your home’s exterior may seem sturdy to you, there is a good chance some weaknesses exist that these pests might use to get inside. To help you identify these weaknesses and keep mice out, here are a few things you should be aware of.
Types Of Mice Around Waltham
Waltham is home to a few different species of mice, some of which like to invade homes. The two most common home-invading mice in our area are deer mice and house mice.
Identify a house mouse by its dusty grey fur, cream-colored underbelly, round ears, blunt muzzle, black or red eyes, round, 2 ½ to 3 ¾” long body, and 2 to 4” long fuzzy tail.
Identify a deer mouse by its brown fur, white feet and underbelly, large, long ears, pointy muzzle, black eyes, small, 2 to 4” body, and 2 to 4” furry tail.
Despite the slight differences in these pest’s appearance, deer mice and house mice have several things in common. The first is their incredibly sharp and durable front incisor teeth, which they use to chew through walls, tear up materials to build nests out of, and gnaw on objects such as couch legs and other wooden things.
Both of these mice are dexterous and can jump a considerable distance when compared to their body size. Finally, these pests are incredibly intelligent. In closed studies, many different species of mice were seen witnessing how a mousetrap works and adapting to not only avoid getting caught in them but also consume their bait without getting hurt.
What Attracts Mice To A Home?
Three things draw mice to homes: food, water, and shelter. As the weather gets cold and available food sources start to dwindle outside, these pests will be looking for clever ways to sneak their way into area homes. Once inside, mice find shelter within wall/ceiling voids and around dark secluded areas, scavenge for food around living areas and pantries, and get a drink from water build up in faucets, basements, around drains, and from leaky piping. If your home offers mice these basic needs, they will be more likely to try to break in.
5 Great Mouse Prevention Tips
- Seal off any cracks, gaps, and openings around your home’s exterior foundation.
- Address moisture problems around your home, such as leaky pipes and broken gutters.
- Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and wash out their bowls after they finish every meal.
- Store leftovers, food stored in plastic bags or boxes, and pet food into tough sealable containers.
- Keep your home clean and do your best to keep up with food and drink messes.
The Best Way To Handle Mice
If you’re having trouble preventing mice or getting these pests out of your home, the professionals at Assurance Pest Solutions are here to help. When you call us, you open a world of affordable and effective pest control options to handle the invasive species causing trouble inside your Waltham home.
Reach out to our team today for more information and find a time to have your property treated for mice.