Why Do Mice Come In The House In The Summer
As a homeowner, one of the biggest fears that come with owning a home is a rodent infestation. Keep in mind that just because it is the summer does not mean that is the only time of year a mouse will explore access to your home. Like many living species, staying out of the heat and elements of the summer is vital for life expectancy. Always make sure to inspect your home's exterior and the attic space. Why do mice come in the house in the summer? They are looking for food, water, and shelter from the heat and extreme elements.
Let's take a look below at how we can keep them away from the home and out of our attic space.
How Do They Get In
It is very simple for a mouse to gain access to your home if you do not maintain the home's exterior. Starting with removing all trash from the home, eliminating cardboard, and keeping your food airtight so they cannot chew their way to it. In many cases, there is a crack or opening on the exterior of the home. It could be at the foundation, the basement window or doors, and even the air vents attached to the attic space. So, inspecting the exterior of your home will allow you to identify a potential access point for mice and shore that area up to keep them out. Let's take a look at why it is important to keep the mice away.
Why Is There A Concern
Unfortunately, there are a few concerns with mice gaining access to your home. Let's review.
- Disease - the biggest concern is that mice can carry and transmit many diseases. Diseases such as Salmonella, Murine Typhus, Rat-bite Fever, and Bacterial Food Poisoning to name a few. Keep an eye out for one called Hantavirus. This virus can affect your Pulmonary system and cause fatal respiratory issues.
- Reproduction - mice can get pregnant as soon as 2 days after giving birth. They can end up reproducing up to 2,000 mice per year.
- Damage - it is estimated that over 20% of all house fires come from mice or rodent damage. They can chew on electrical wires and those wires become exposed. This can cause an electrical spark or shock that can start a fire. In addition, they chew through walls, cardboard, furniture, books, and any other paper goods. Also, they will nest in your appliances, wall cavities, attic space, and anywhere they can seek shelter.
Remember that the best way to prevent mice from accessing your home is by repairing any damage to your home and eliminating easy access points. Also, limit the supply of food and water as additional preventative measures.
What Do I Do To Prevent This
Believe it or not, the best way to keep rodents away from your home and prevent mice from entering is by conducting simple maintenance. Always keep your property well maintained. Let's review some of the more pertinent was of prevention.
- Stacking - keep all materials away from the home. Stacking boxes and debris will provide shelter and access to the home.
- Landscaping - trim your trees and shrubs. Keep trees from extending over your home where mice and other rodents can gain access to your roof and then attic space.
- Food - keep your food in airtight containers. Mice like to chew through cardboard boxes that a lot of foods are packaged in.
- Debris - keep your home free and clear of litter and debris. You want to prevent nesting as much as possible.
- Gutters - keep the gutters working properly, so they aren't collecting water.
How Much Does It Cost
Getting rid of mice from your home or your detached garage can be difficult without a professional. Hiring a professional pest control company is a great idea. However, the cost of mice extermination is not cheap. If you discover the infestation early enough, you could be looking at an average cost of $300 to $800. In some rare cases, you might end up paying over $1,300. It is cheaper to maintain your home and its exterior than it is to face extermination.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you have an understanding of mice in the summer months, also be aware of what a dead mouse smell is. If mice are getting into your home, it is highly likely that not all of them make it out the same way they came in. In some cases, they can get trapped in your walls and never make it out for food. A dead mouse smell is horrible to experience in your home, so once the dead mouse is removed read up on the best ways to remove the odor from your home.
Hearing a noise in your home, you could assume it is a rodent. However, that is not always the case. Once you get up into the attic, you might notice something odd. The noise has gotten louder and you begin to notice that something is hanging from your truss. It is not a rodent, but what could it be? Well, it just so happens to be a bat! Yikes! You should immediately call a local pest control company that deals with bat removal. Like mice, bats can be very bad for your home.
Since you are on the topic of bats and rodents, it might be a good time to find out what eats mosquitos. There is a very similar correlation here between bats, rodents, and mosquitos. They all love water and carry diseases. Luckily, bats eat mosquitos, and if you have a high mosquito problem, this could be how the bats showed up in your attic. So, remember to keep the bats away, you must limit your mosquito population by conducting the necessary maintenance.
When Do I Call A Professional
Calling on a professional pest control company is key in this case. If you notice mice are coming into your home to seek shelter from the summer heat, you will want to remove them quickly. If you aren't sure of a reputable pest control company, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect your home for all rodent findings and look for any damage that may have been called. Also, they can recommend a reputable pest control company to alleviate the problem.
Conclusion
Anytime you have a mice invasion in your home it needs to be swiftly dealt with. Having mice in your home can cause many issues, from damage to wires, walls, and exterior surfaces. Also, they can bring disease into your home that is not good for your family. In addition, you might get lucky and find a local home inspection company that also offers a pest control service. Call on Gray Pest Control for all your pest control needs in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas.