Several signs can point to a mouse infestation in your Austin home. During the night, you may hear scurrying, scratching, and squeaking in your walls. During the day, other signs may become more evident.
Knowing the signs of a mouse problem can help you identify one quickly so you can get the professional help you need.
Mice Identification
How Can I Identify Mice?
An infestation of mice may look similar to an infestation of other rodents, such as rats, voles, or shrews. It’s helpful to know the differences.
Mice are grey-brown with tiny bodies, large eyes, long tails, large ears, and a pointed snout.
One mouse can produce around 75 droppings each day, so it’s easy to identify mice by the tiny droppings. They tend to be very active at night.
Mice will also leave marks on wood, plastic, and other hard surfaces due to their gnawing. New marks in your home might be an indicator of a problem, as are signs of nesting.
What Do Mice Eat?
Mice are omnivores that eat just about anything, including seeds, nuts, vegetables, roots, and plants. They also eat insects like caterpillars, cockroaches, and larvae.
However, mice living in and around your home will happily feed on any food they can find. This includes trash and crumbs on your countertops.
Where Can Mice Be Found?
While you might catch a quick glimpse of a mouse here or there in your home, they are likely hiding during the day in secluded, safe spots.
These spots include:
- Cabinets & drawers
- Inside walls
- In or under furniture
- Behind appliances
- Attics, basements, garages
- Boxes
Signs of a Mice Infestation
Keep an eye out for any of the following signs of a mouse problem in your home.
Noises
Sounds like scurrying, scratching, squeaking, and hissing, particularly at night, indicate that you have mice in your home.
Droppings
Mice defecate dozens of times per day. Finding droppings in drawers, cupboards, boxes, and other secluded areas is a sure sign of a problem.
Evidence of Gnawing
A mouse’s teeth continue to grow throughout its lifetime, so they continuously need to gnaw. Therefore, a mouse problem results in gnawing marks in your home.
Grease Rub Markings
When a mouse rubs up against walls and floorboards, it leaves behind grease stains. These become more noticeable the more often a mouse visits a spot.
Nesting
Mice are incredibly fast breeders, so they need to build a nest when they find a new home. They make nests from shredded paper, plant material, fabric, fluff, and any other soft material they can find.
Smells
Mice are smelly creatures, and their urine and droppings contribute to the odors they will leave behind if they find their way into your home.
Abnormal Pet Behavior
If you have a dog or a cat, you might notice some changes in their behavior as they smell, hear, or even chase mice in your home.
Tracks
A mouse will revisit the same places frequently once in a home, leaving tracks of dirt, urine, droppings, and scratches.
Mice Prevention & Control Tips
The best and most effective way to control mice in your Austin home is to contact professionals. However, there are other steps you to take on your own to mitigate and prevent the problem in the future.
Address Excess Moisture
Like any other animal, mice need water to survive. So if you have leaking pipes or excess moisture in your home, it could be attracting mice.
Maintain a Clean Home
Scavenging mice love nothing more than finding clutter, trash, and food in their next home. Declutter so mice have nowhere to hide and keep food sealed in containers where mice can’t access it.
Empty Trash Regularly
You should take out your kitchen trash daily to avoid giving mice a food source. Likewise, be sure to use outdoor trash cans that have tight, secure lids.
Trim Surrounding Vegetation
Overgrown vegetation makes an excellent hideout for this animal near your home. Keep mice away by trimming and maintaining the trees and bushes on your property.
Seal Entry Points
Mice can squeeze through the tiniest cracks and spaces in your foundation. Caulk all possible entry points to keep mice out.
Wave Your Mice Problem Goodbye: Contact Us Today!
Discovering that you have a mice infestation can be stressful. After all, mice can transmit disease, contaminate food, cause allergic reactions, and damage your property.
The best thing you can do to treat your Austin, TX mouse problem is to contact a professional. Reach out to us today for help resolving your pest problem!