Inside the walls of our homes are studs, insulation, wiring, and more—but what happens when uninvited guests move into our homes? The insulation in your walls and spaces of low foot traffic such as your attic among other places, becomes an excellent nest for mice. Mice can enter your home in multiple ways:

Cracks and holes in walls
Gaps under garage or shed doors
Broken or deteriorating exterior vents
Unsealed or broken windows and doors

Since mice are nocturnal creatures, you may not notice infestation signs until they’ve been inhabiting your home for an extended amount of time. The most common rodents in Gilbert include pack rats, roof rats, house mice, and deer mice. Although these rodents vary in size and nesting habits, they all have the same potential to damage your home and pose potential health risks for you and your family.

How can I tell if mice are living in my home?

When the weather gets colder, mice are more likely to seek shelter inside. With access to food, water, and shelter, mice will settle in and stay for as long as possible. Signs that you have an ongoing mouse infestation include:

Presence of droppings that look like dark brown or black grains of rice, typically found in cabinets, pantries, attics, or crawl spaces
You hear light scratching coming from inside your walls or attic
Damage to food packaging and household items that appear to have been chewed
Unexplainable musky odors, typically originating from house mice

If you find a nest or have suspicions that your home has fallen victim to a mouse infestation, the next best step is to call SOS Exterminating. We’ll help determine the best course of action and get rid of the infestation with professional rodent control services.

How can I prevent mouse infestations?

The best way to deal with rodents in your home is to follow preventative measures. These will protect your home from future infestations. This section will discuss preventative tips and why they’re useful in hindering infestations.

Sealing Cracks and Crevices

According to the CDC, mice can fit through spaces as small as a nickel, and rats the size of a half-dollar. Locating cracks and crevices both inside and outside and sealing them with material that is hard-to-chew through will physically block their entrance into your home.

Steel wool, copper wire mesh, and expanding spray-foam can be purchased from your local hardware store and used to fill in small spaces. Then, use a caulk to seal the area and hold the steel wool in place. For large spaces, you should use a lath screen or lath metal, cement, or metal sheeting.

Cleaning Up and Securing Food Sources

Rodents enjoy dark spaces, including kitchen cabinets and pantries. They need to frequently eat for energy and make trips to food sources not far from their nests. Easily accessible food sources include:

Stray crumbs
Pet food left out beyond feeding times
Cardboard boxes containing cereal, snacks, and other dry foods
Dirty dishes and food containers
Unsealed trash cans

Without constant access to food sources, mice will be more inclined to find a nesting location elsewhere. You can protect your food with glass, thick plastic, or metal containers, and lids. More importantly, if dealing with an active infestation, sealing food sources will prevent contact with rodents, protecting yourself and your family from dangerous diseases.

How can SOS Exterminating get rid of mice in my home?

The best way to deal with mouse infestations is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. By following the tips listed above to reduce the likelihood of a future rodent infestation. Reach out to SOS Exterminating to learn more about our Rodent Exclusion Service and short-term rodent control plans by calling us or filling out the contact form on this page.