As the weather starts to get cooler, it’s more common for mice and rats to look for shelter over the winter, which can typically be in garden sheds and houses. Ultimately mice want somewhere dry, safe and with a regular food source, and most houses tick these boxes.
Mouse infestations are not necessarily linked to how clean (or not) a house is. Typically leaving food on the floor or on surfaces might encourage mice, however a mouse infestation can take hold in any house, the mice just need an entry point, and nearly every house has a hole small enough for mice to get into your house.
Signs of mice or a mouse infestation includes seeing mice in your house, mouse droppings and chewed food packaging. Once you have seen a mouse in your kitchen or any room in your house, then there is a high chance you have a mouse infestation and there are mice living in your house, rather than one solitary mouse.
The best way to get rid of mice is a professional mouse extermination program. It is unlikely the mice will leave of their own accord, and they do carry rodent diseases which can be dangerous to human health. They also commonly chew electrical wiring and cables which is also dangerous and can be costly to put right.
Mouse pest control is usually a minimum of a two-visit mouse extermination program. Your pest controller will confirm on the first visit whether there is a live mouse infestation present. If there is, they will normally start a mouse pest control program straight away in line with what they find, and where they feel the mice are most active.
If you use a professional pest control company, your pest control operative should use a licensed rodent bait that works quickly and is highly effective – licensed baits are unavailable over the counter, and are only available to people trained and qualified to use rodenticides safely.
Once the mouse pest control program is in place, it is standard practice for your pest control company to then leave it to do it’s job, and return approximately one week later. On this second visit your pest control operative will be able to confirm whether the mouse infestation is finished, or if additional visits are needed. A two visit mouse extermination program is usually enough to stop a mouse infestation, however this does depend on how severe the mouse infestation is to begin with.
