Mice
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The house mouse is the most common mouse found infesting domestic properties in the UK. The house mouse (Mus domesticus) is brownish-grey with a thin tail that is longer than the head and body. Adults may weigh up to 25g.
The house mouse rarely burrows but has good climbing skills. It may be found both indoors and outdoors.
Mice can breed very quickly and require a very small amount of food and water to survive (as little as one pea will supply the mouse with enough food and water for one day).
Mice, similar to rats, carry a number of diseases in their droppings, on their fur and in urine. When mice infest food they may contaminate the food and make it dangerous to eat.
Identification
Signs of a mouse infestation may include:
Small, spindle shaped droppings (typically 5mm long) found on the floor, in food or on surfaces.
Gnawed food, food packets or building structure.
Tracks in spilt food or a greasy 'smear' along walls.
Sightings of live mice and dead mouse bodies.
Exclusion
The house mouse rarely burrows but has good climbing skills. It may be found both indoors and outdoors.
Mice can breed very quickly and require a very small amount of food and water to survive (as little as one pea will supply the mouse with enough food and water for one day).
Mice, similar to rats, carry a number of diseases in their droppings, on their fur and in urine. When mice infest food they may contaminate the food and make it dangerous to eat.
Identification
Signs of a mouse infestation may include:
Small, spindle shaped droppings (typically 5mm long) found on the floor, in food or on surfaces.
Gnawed food, food packets or building structure.
Tracks in spilt food or a greasy 'smear' along walls.
Sightings of live mice and dead mouse bodies.
Exclusion
(See: Advice on Preventing Rats & Mice (Rodents) Getting into Your Property)
The best way to prevent a mouse infestation is to exclude mice from the premises. All holes under doors, around pipes and in brickwork should be filled with a hard, gnaw resistant material such as concrete. Rubber or plastic brush strips may be fitted to the bottom of doors.
The rule of thumb is that if a pen can fit through a gap so could a mouse. Mice can squeeze their bodies through gaps of only a few milimeters.
You should also limit the amount of food and water that the mice have access to. Mice require food, water and warmth to survive and if you can stop them getting at food they are likely to find somewhere else to live! You should:
Seal all food in gnaw proof containers (especially dry goods such as nuts and lentils).
Maintain a clean kitchen, sweep up all food debris from the floor and seal all bins.
Close toilet lids and drain water from sinks at night. Fix leaky taps.
Treatment
Once exclusion measures have been taken it will be necessary to treat the premises to remove the mice that may now be trapped inside!
If exclusion measures are not taken, treatments may remove the infestation but it likely that your property will become reinfested with mice at a later date. Permenant removal of mice is only possible through a combination of pest exclusion and control with traps and rodenticide (rodent poison).
The Pest Control Technician will be able to advise you on exclusion measures which you should take and then decide on the best way to treat the mice. It is usual to use mouse baits in boxes treated with slow acting rodenticide, although traps and other methods may be employed if necessary.
There is currently a charge for mouse infestation treatment.
Contact the Customer Service Line to request treatment for mice.
The best way to prevent a mouse infestation is to exclude mice from the premises. All holes under doors, around pipes and in brickwork should be filled with a hard, gnaw resistant material such as concrete. Rubber or plastic brush strips may be fitted to the bottom of doors.
The rule of thumb is that if a pen can fit through a gap so could a mouse. Mice can squeeze their bodies through gaps of only a few milimeters.
You should also limit the amount of food and water that the mice have access to. Mice require food, water and warmth to survive and if you can stop them getting at food they are likely to find somewhere else to live! You should:
Seal all food in gnaw proof containers (especially dry goods such as nuts and lentils).
Maintain a clean kitchen, sweep up all food debris from the floor and seal all bins.
Close toilet lids and drain water from sinks at night. Fix leaky taps.
Treatment
Once exclusion measures have been taken it will be necessary to treat the premises to remove the mice that may now be trapped inside!
If exclusion measures are not taken, treatments may remove the infestation but it likely that your property will become reinfested with mice at a later date. Permenant removal of mice is only possible through a combination of pest exclusion and control with traps and rodenticide (rodent poison).
The Pest Control Technician will be able to advise you on exclusion measures which you should take and then decide on the best way to treat the mice. It is usual to use mouse baits in boxes treated with slow acting rodenticide, although traps and other methods may be employed if necessary.
There is currently a charge for mouse infestation treatment.
Contact the Customer Service Line to request treatment for mice.
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