Attics and basements. Ideal places for storing your stuff and overall invaluable because of this. And yet, they’re the most susceptible places to pest invasion. Moreover, we often don’t check them quite often, and thus, we might have a nasty surprise waiting for us.
Yes, we’re talking about mice. These little mammals are excellent infiltrators of attics and basements. Especially during the colder times of the year. They’ll cause plenty of damage and will invade the rest of your home from these locations.
This means addressing mice infestations as quickly as you can. This is what we’re going to explore below today.
Assessing the Infestation
Look for the entry points as well. These can be gaps in the walls and vents. Moreover, check around the utility lines as well. Mice are great at sneaking in even through the smallest of gaps.
Lastly, when you know the scope of the infestation you’ll be much more likely to choose the correct way to deal with it. And through this, you’ll address the problem much quicker.
Implementing Prentative Measures
Firstly, seal off all potential entry points. Use materials such as steel wool or wire mesh. These will block the gaps and cracks, without the possibility of mice getting through them. Moreover, check the floors and foundations for gaps and address them in the same way.
Next, comes your home’s exterior. Check for openings around doors and windows. Address those and then proceed to repair any damaged or missing screens or vents. Trim back vegetation and remove clutter from the perimeter. This is going to effectively eliminate most potential hiding spots for mice.
Implementing these exclusion measures will have a noticeable effect. You will make mice gaining access to your attic and basement much harder. And, thus help prevent future infestations.
Trapping and Removal Techniques
Traps are quite effective. Especially so in places like the basement or the attic. Moreover, you will avoid using poison, which can be dangerous to pets or wildlife. For trapping to work, all you need is to get snap traps.
Place them at key locations and check regularly. Of course, you want to target areas where mice are likely to pass. These can be near entry points, along walls, etc. Adding some sort of bait is also a must. Use enticing things like peanut butter or chocolate.
When you find a mouse in the traps, dispose of it promptly. After that, reset the traps, but hopefully, your problem is solved and you won’t need to do that.
Alternatively, you can always go for live traps, if you prefer the more humane option.
Sanitation and Cleanup
You might think that once you’ve dealt with the mice, that’s it. Actually, to be on the safe side, you need to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises. Of course, you might want to mouse-proof your home first.
To sanitise the premises, thoroughly vacuum all affected areas. After that, use some sort of disinfectant, like bleach. Throw away all contaminated materials. Better yet, don’t use cardboard boxes ever again. Switch to plastic containers which can be tightly-sealed. That way your stuff like books and mementoes will be better protected.
If you store food in the affected areas, use sealed containers. That will discourage mice from targeting your home. Maintain good hygiene in the attic and the basement, seal all gaps, and you won’t likely deal with mice for a long time.
Implementing Ultrasonic Repellents
Source – amazon
Technology solves many things. Such is the case with this little contraption. It emits high-frequency sounds which mice find abhorrent. The result is they move away from your premises. However, if the mouse is hungry or desperate enough, it might be willing to endure a little pain. Especially if the reward is food and shelter. That’s why it’s better to use ultrasonic repellents as a supplementary weapon in your arsenal against mice. Moreover, don’t place it behind furniture, as they can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the sound waves. Make sure you have an open, clear space in front of the contraption for it to work properly.
When To Call Professionals
Should your efforts prove insufficient, and you discover a rodent infestation, you better act fast and call professional mouse control services. You will have lots of trouble if you don’t act quickly, as mice procreate like crazy and they spread diseases.
Moreover, they like to constantly chew on things. This can cause serious damage over time.
Places like the attic or the basement can be ideal zones for the small rodents to procreate and spread to the rest of your house.
But the highest danger is the risk of fire. Mice constantly need to chew on things, and your home’s electrical system is not exempt. A mouse might chew through a wire, and cause electrical fire, which is extremely dangerous.
Calling a licensed rodent removal service can prevent these things. The pros have years of experience. They will assess the premises and identify the root cause of the infestation. After the mouse problem is removed, however, you need to remain vigilant.
Take effective steps to mouse-proof your home to avoid dealing with the same issue, as mice will always try to take advantage if they can.
Conclusion
So, there we go! Attic and basement mouse prevention is not that complex. It requires, however, for you to address all these things timely and properly. Mouse-proofing your home is much better than dealing with an infestation in the first place.
Not to mention, it’s also much easier!
Even if all efforts fail, and mice do manage to sneak into your abode, know you still have a way out. Let the pros handle the mouse infestation and have the matter resolved in no time. Lastly, don’t forget to inspect your attic and basement regularly.
