Finding a mouse in your home can be unsettling to say the least. But according to the team at ABC Humane Wildlife Control and Prevention, a company that handles residential mouse control in Naperville, Illinois, a mouse problem can be more than just a nuisance. Mice can cause more damage than many people realize, and therefore shouldn’t be taken lightly. Dealing with a mouse problem requires experience, an understanding of the mouse’s habits and needs, and an integrative approach that includes measures to prevent future infestations.
Why Keep Mice Away
Mice are rodents. One notable characteristic all rodents share is that their teeth grow continuously. The chewing that rats and mice are known for serves a very important purpose: to file down their teeth. In fact, at the end of a year, if mice didn’t chew, their teeth would be so long that they would kill the mice themselves.
So, in addition to the damage mice cause with their appetites and their droppings, they can also cause quite a bit of damage to your home just trying to keep their teeth filed. This kind of chewing can create a fire hazard in homes, as it’s not uncommon for mice to chew through wiring.
Dealing with Mice
Because mice can be so destructive, it’s important to take any evidence of a mouse in your home very seriously. Getting rid of mice requires a fairly aggressive strategy. When ABC Humane Wildlife Control and Prevention handles a mouse problem, they treat the whole home using an integrative approach.
This approach may include the application of a product to drive the existing mice out, but will also include measures to prevent a future incursion. The best way to keep mice out is to identify and then seal any possible points of entry.
Unlike rat poison, well-known to be harmful to people and pets, the product used by ABC is a medication, targeted only to mice, and encapsulated in wax.
“If you use a poison that’s a toxin to vertebrate animals,” the team explains, “there is always the possibility of off-gassing or VOCs. And it may be toxic for people nearby to breathe and touch. But if you use a targeted medication, encapsulated in wax, you’re able to treat the mouse problem without off-gassing or toxic effects to people.” This makes ABC’s approach a more environmentally sound choice as well as safer for human occupants.
Thanks to ABC’s 30 years of experience the company has learned that often, after someone has had a very serious mouse problem, a reoccurring odor may linger, particularly as seasons change and moisture levels increase. This is usually due to accumulated mouse urine in the attic insulation. If this type of odor is present, ABC will remove the affected insulation, sanitize the attic, and then install new insulation. This not only eliminates lingering odors, but generally also improves the home’s energy efficiency.
Choosing a team of experienced professionals like those at ABC will ensure that your mouse problem is remedied promptly and safely, and that the appropriate steps are taken to keep the problem from happening again.