How To Get Rid Of Mice In Your Atlanta Home And Keep Them Out

Mice are tiny rodents with the skill set to get into our homes and cause damage. They can squeeze into a hole the size of a nickel by dislocating their bones, crawl up a vertical wall, or, if all that fails, simply chew their way inside through our home's drywall and boards.

And once mice get in, the damage they cause to your health and home can be astronomical. Mice carry several dangerous diseases, destroy furniture and walls by gnawing on them, and are the second most common cause of house fires, thanks to their taste for live electrical wires inside the walls. Every year, more than 20 million dollars in damage repair costs are due to mice in the United States.

In Atlanta, you're likely to encounter two types of mice; the house mouse and the deer mouse.

House mice are 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches long, not including the tail, with grey fur and cream-colored undersides. They're easy to identify by their large ears and pointed muzzles.

Deer mice are a little larger, 2 to 4 inches long, with brown fur and white feet and undersides, reminiscent of a deer.

Let's take a look at how to spot signs of a mouse infestation, how to get rid of mice in your house, and where to find professional pest control in Atlanta if you need help getting them out.

How To Tell If It's Mice In Your Home

Mice are nocturnal and experts at staying out of sight, so spotting a mouse infestation in Atlanta can be pretty difficult.

Watch for the following signs of mice in the house:

• Gnaw marks on walls and furniture
• Mouse droppings, 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size and rod-shaped with pointed ends
• Oily rub marks on the walls
• Footprints; 4-toed from their front feet and 5-toed from their rear

If you're starting to see live Atlanta rodents scurrying around the floor or detect a strong urine smell, the infestation is likely in advanced stages. Mice don't venture far from the nest until forced to look for more food, and urine they mark territory with is usually not detectable until a significant number of mice are in the house.

Why Mice In Your Home Is A Major Health Risk

Once mice make their way into your house, they immediately look for a food source, and with their sense of smell (one of the best in the animal kingdom), they're more often than not destroying your food stores in no time. As mice move around the house, they spread a number of highly contagious diseases, such as leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia, and salmonellosis.

Exposure to mouse urine and droppings is a common cause of asthma attacks and allergies.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Mouse Infestation

Mice multiply fast, especially house mice, which can have hundreds of offspring running around your home within a year. They are also extremely difficult to remove once established inside your house.

At Solstys Environmental, we specialize in utilizing eco-friendly mouse control solutions. We have the tools, training, and experience to make sure your home is clear of every last disease-spreading rodent without exposing you or your family to dangerous chemicals.

Five Simple Tips To Prevent Future Mouse Problems

For a DIYer, the best approach to mouse control is to prevent the infestation from happening in the first place.

Follow these tips to keep mice out of your Atlanta home:

1. Seal cracks in the outside walls larger than a quarter inch.
2. Keep food in sealed containers.
3. Cut the trees and shrubs away from house walls.
4. Get rid of clutter.
5. Inspect rarely used areas on a regular basis.

To add an additional layer to your mouse-proofing strategy, consider adding a yearly pest control inspection to keep your home rodent-free.

Reach out today to get started and to learn more about our rodent control services in Atlanta.