What Every Katy Homeowner Ought To Know About House Mice
If you were to walk into your kitchen and see a mouse running along the wall, what would your response be? For some, a mouse sighting can be extremely scary. For others, it is no big deal at all. We're going to guess that you probably fall somewhere in the middle. Most people do. But, whether you think mice are cute little friends or creepy little critters, there are several things you should know about these furry houseguests.
1. Mice Are Common
There is a reason field mice are called common house mice; they commonly get into homes in Katy. Once inside, they are likely to stay. Your home provides everything a little mouse could ever want. This will lead to increased issues because mice breed faster than rabbits.
2. Mice Don't Come In Alone
When mice get into your home or go in and out of your home, they pick up ticks and fleas. This can expose your pets to these pests. But it can also expose you to them. When seed ticks mature, they drop off their first host and search for a large host. While ticks don't take humans as hosts, they will get a blood meal from a human.
3. Mice Carry The Worst Ticks
When we say that mice carry the worst ticks, we don't mean that they carry the worst tick species. Mice carry the same ticks every other animal carries. What makes their ticks worse are the diseases that ticks pick up from mice. Mice get into trash and consume harmful organisms. This makes them a reservoir for many diseases. When a tick gets a blood meal from a mouse, it can pick up diseases that may be spread to humans. A tick that is brought into your home by your dog or cat is far less likely to have diseases. The seed ticks in your yard that get onto your pet don't have diseases at first, and they are less likely to pick up diseases from your dog or cat.
4. Mice Chew Chew Chew
When mice explore your exterior, they find tiny holes and make them bigger. These holes can allow other pests to get into your home. They can also allow rainwater to get in and cause wood rot and mold.
Once inside your home, mice don't stop chewing. They gather materials for their nests and damage the materials your home is made of. They also chew on stored items, such as furniture, clothing, and boxes. This can lead to valuable keepsakes being irreparably damaged.
Inside wall voids, mice chew on wiring. If a mouse severs a live wire, it can cause a spark. Under the right conditions, this can lead to a house fire.
5. Mice Are Not Polite
When a mouse needs to go to the bathroom, it does its business wherever it is. And not only do they leave their feces and urine all around your home, they also do their business where they sleep. This causes their fur to be a significant threat for contamination.
6. Mice Get Into Your Food
If you're the type of person who doesn't have a problem sharing food with a cute little mouse, remember that the fur of that mouse will touch your food and this can lead to serious stomach illness if you eat food that a mouse has been eating.
What To Do About Mice
Do you see now why it is so important to make sure your home stays a mouse-free zone? There are many ways to do this. The best way is to have a residential pest control program that includes the management of mice. If you need assistance with this, we can help. Contact Modern Pest Control today to learn about all of the many benefits of ongoing, always active pest control.