Are you one of those people who can easily be frightened by the sight of mice scurrying around? Maybe you are the person who would scream a lot and would love to get rid of mice from your house? If the answer is yes, then maybe you should try the services of companies specializing in mice and bug pest control for the area of Fort Mill, SC.
But wait! You suddenly realized that you are on a tight budget this month and adding in an unexpected expense might put your finances out of control and onto a downward spiral. Surely there must be some alternatives to hiring a Fort Mill pest exterminator?
Mice are common household pests that are not only a nuisance to have around but are also high health risks. Living with them or tolerating their presence should never be an option. They are a living, walking disease waiting to happen, and are a weapon of mass destruction! Well, mass destruction may be pushing it too far, but still, the damage they can cause is quite considerable.
In this article, Go-Forth Home Services, the top pest control company in Fort Mill, gives you a more in-depth look at mice. As they say, to beat the enemy, you will have to know more about them.
What Are Mice?
Some sections of the society here in Fort Mill think of mice as cute little fur balls. That is fine, after all, one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time is a mouse named Mickey, who single-handedly built one of the largest entertainment companies in the world.
The house mice, the most common among mice pests, are gray with cream-colored undersides. They have pointed muzzles, large rounded ears, and four legs. They may be up to 3.75 inches long, excluding the tail. They have hairy tails that are longer than their bodies. They have flexible bodies, so much so that they can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel.
When they are outdoors, their average lifespan is 1 year because predators feed on them. Indoors where they are in a protected environment like in houses, they can live up to 3 years.
Mice are very intelligent and are inquisitive. They like to explore their surroundings. They climb whatever they can because of their curiosity. But then, they avoid confrontation and quickly scamper away when they sense danger. This is an important trait that you have to remember so that you can effectively get rid of them.
The Social Life Of Mice
Mice are social creatures, they are not as well-structured as ants in a colony. They live in a nest where they sleep together, play together, sometimes eat together. Mice sleep cuddling each other. They love to play and can be observed laughing as they play.
It has been observed that mice get sad and lonely when they are left alone. When they lose a loved one they mourn. They do not like to be left alone, though they are often observed foraging for food by themselves.
How Do Mice Reproduce?
A female mouse is already capable of reproducing as early as 5 weeks old. They continue to be productive for 2 years, giving birth every 3 weeks.
Mice love doing two things: they always eat and are sexually active. This again poses a problem for us because obviously, they multiply quickly. Therefore we must detect them early on before their numbers increase. The more mice there are mean more problems.
Mice As Pests
Mice are nocturnal creatures and go out of their nests while humans are sleeping. When they do go out, they always crawl close to walls and are very uncomfortable going out in the open. Mice have incisors that are constantly growing. For this to stop, they need to chew on something. This explains why whenever there are mice in our homes, we always see gnaw marks on items like boxes, books, papers, clothes, walls, furniture, gas pipes, and electric cables, among others. They attack human and pet food, leftovers, trash, and fruits and vegetables. Food that is exposed to mice is at risk of contamination through mice droppings, saliva, vomit, or urine. Mice also can spread fleas, ticks, and lice.
Mice are also disease vectors. Among the diseases that they spread are leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, rickettsialpox, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and salmonellosis.
Mice Effects On Business
The cost to businesses inflicted by the presence of mice is almost immeasurable. Since it is now known that mice are disease vectors, people are wary of their presence especially if the business is related to food, like restaurants and food processing businesses. If you are a restaurant or a food manufacturing business owner, be on the lookout for mice.
Due to the dangers of having mice around, laws were passed that would punish such businesses if ever they are caught having mice infestation in their establishments. And with the age of modern technology plus social media, it is so easy to get caught nowadays. All cellphones have cameras now, and a customer can easily take pictures of mice running access tables in a restaurant, and then post the pictures on Facebook or Instagram, and that would be the end of your business.
Mice can also destroy business establishments. They are a fire hazard because they like to chew on gas pipes and electric cables, as we mentioned previously. And of course, mice droppings, urine, and saliva can contaminate food and water, which would then make customers and employees sick. Be ready for lawsuits then.
Signs Of Mice Infestation
Mice are nocturnal creatures, so chances are you would not bump into each other. All you have then are signs of their presence. Signs that can tell you that you have mice infestation problems include seeing droppings that look like little black pellets around the house. Mice poop a lot so you would see their droppings everywhere.
Gnaw marks on old newspapers, other papers, boxes, yearbook, and clothes with nibbled parts. Gas pipes, electric cables, walls, and furniture are also chewed on by mice. Mice also produce a musky odor. When you spot a mouse somewhere inside your home, there are probably many more somewhere. Finding mice during the day means mice infestation is heavy because they normally do not go out of their nests in the daytime.
Mice Extermination
Mice invade homes simply because they are looking for food, water, and shelter. Keeping this in mind would help you avoid mice altogether.
Mice do not need clean, fresh food. Like cockroaches and flies, they feed on whatever food scraps that are left on the table, on the floor, or wherever you eat around the house and are not choosy. They raid trash cans and garbage bins for food. These food sources encourage mice to stay around your house.
Keep food in sealed containers to protect them for mice. Wipe off food crumbs, drink spills, and crumbs. Clean stoves, tabletops, and the kitchen sink. Place a lid on trash cans and garbage bins to keep it out of the reach of mice.
Fix leaky pipes and faucets. Water attracts mice and would lead them to the bathroom or under the kitchen sink.
Price For Mice Control
Protection against mice with the help of pest control companies normally starts at around $300.00.
If you already have mice infestation problems, then it is time to seek professional services. If you are still having problems with getting rid of mice at home, you may want the help of the mice exterminators in Fort Mill, Go-Forth Home Services.
Why Go-Forth Home Services Has Great Company Reviews
No home or pest is the same, so there is no one size fits all solution. At Go-Forth Home Services, we have professional technicians who will examine your home and your lawn to evaluate your necessity. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We only use state of the art equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving pests. Our licensed technicians are highly skilled and well trained for your peace of mind.
We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.
We have excellent experience in handling pests not only in Fort Mill but in the entire Triad region as well. We are a family-owned company, assuring you of that personal touch in all our services. Because of this, Go-Forth Home Services has earned the trust of residents and businesses in Fort Mill, South Carolina for more than 60 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.