Mice

What type of mice Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi?

Mice are rodents, and have no problem taking advantage of food, water, and shelter sources that humans provide. They make up the largest group of mammals and are commonly identified by their continuously growing front incisors. To keep their teeth from overgrowing and preventing them from eating, rodents constantly gnaw on anything they can get their teeth on, creating a lot of damage inside area homes and other buildings. Mice will chew through wires, pipes, drywall, and flooring, causing significant structural damage. They also carry and transmit diseases, bacteria, and parasites to people and pets, and they contaminate our food sources.

 
deer mouse sitting on a tree root outside of meridian mississippi home

Deer mice

Adult deer mice have large ears, which are covered in fur, and they have black eyes. They have a slender build and can run quickly. Adults are brownish-red or grayish-brown in color, and have lighter, off-white colored underbellies and feet. Their hair-covered tails are also darker on top and lighter-colored on the underside. Deer mice have an approximate body length of 2 3/4 to 4 inches and their tails measure 2 to 5 inches.

field mouse sitting in a field in montgomery alabama

Field mice

Field mice are usually gray or tawny brown in color, and their underbellies are covered in white hairs which extend back behind their tail. They have lighter-colored or white feet. Field mice have short tails that are about the same length as their bodies. From nose to tail, adult field mice grow to between 5 and 8 inches in length.

house mouse on top of a flower pot inside home in new orleans louisiana

House mice

House mice are the most common mice that homeowners come into contact with. They breed quickly, are invasive, and adapt quickly to new living conditions. House mice are light brown to gray in color, and have lighter, cream-colored underbellies. They have pointed noses, large ears, and tails that are covered in a light layer of fur. Their bodies are 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches in length, with their tails adding another 2 ½ to 4 inches to their total body length.

How do mice gain access?

More times than not mice gain entrance into homes and other buildings at ground level. They squeeze their small bodies through spaces found underneath doors. Sometimes they use the branches of trees, shrubs, and bushes to gain access to the exterior of your home. They get in through spaces around windows and doors, holes in exterior walls, gaps along the roofline, or through chimneys. They may also find their way inside by traveling through open basement or garage doors, or open windows.

Where do mice hide?

Inside, mice are found hiding out in various areas of your home, depending on their exact species. Typical mice hiding spots include wall voids, underneath floors, and behind places that are close to food sources.

Other common nesting and hiding spots for mice include:

■      Inside crawl spaces

■      In basements.

■      Behind kitchen appliances.

■      Underneath kitchen sinks.

■      In closets or storage areas.

Outside, mice hide in dense vegetation,  wood, rock piles, in garden areas, and even in abandoned nests of other small animals.

What are the signs of mice?

To determine whether mice are nesting on your property or inside your home, be on the lookout for the following signs:

■      Smooth or rough gnaw marks on food packaging, walls, flooring, books, or other objects in your home.

■      Cylindrical nests made out of cotton, insulation, paper, and other materials that they have scavenged from around your home.

■      Rod-shaped droppings, with each end being pointed, usually discovered in drawers, cabinets, or along the edges of floors.

■      Scratching or running sounds behind your home’s walls or above its ceilings, especially at night.

■      Seeing mice scurrying across the floor of your home.

Can I get rid of mice myself?

Mice are invasive, they can be damaging to the structure of your home, and they may be dangerous for you and your family to be around. We strongly encourage you to call a professional as soon as you suspect that you may have a mouse infestation. Call us at Havard Pest Control to take advantage of our 70 years of pest control experience.

Mouse Prevention Tips

There are a few things you can do to try and prevent mice from getting into your home:

■      Make sure outdoor trash containers are stored a distance away from the outside of your home. Ensure that they have locking lids on them.

■      Trim trees, branches, bushes, and shrubs away from the outside of your home.

■      Make sure any damage to your home’s roof or roof line is repaired.

■      Seal cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation and exterior walls.

■      Place covers over all vents leading into your home from the outdoors.

■      Install door sweeps underneath all exterior doors.

■      Repair any leaky outdoor pipes, fixtures, or clogged gutters.

■      Keep doors and windows shut as much as possible.

■      Repair holes in door or window screens.

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