Mice In The House
What To Do When There Are Mice in The House
When people discover that there are mice in the house, it is usually an eerie and freaky feeling. Rodents are not predatory, and they don’t bite or scratch or claw. They do, however, carry harsh and potent diseases on their little paws and in their fecal matter, causing a very real concern over safety and sanitation. When there are mice in the house, you will want to first take every precaution against contamination of food sources and dishware. They crawl through cupboards and silverware drawers, over cereal boxes and into opened bags of oatmeal. And don’t worry, if they can’t crawl in they will just nibble and gnaw until they have managed a break in the bag, so rest assured that the mouse will have his meal at your expense.
You will need to dispose of any and all food which adorns evidence of tampering by rodents. No part of these products can or should be salvaged. Once you have determined that these items are discarded, it will be time to sanitize the shelves thoroughly and begin investing in air tight, hard rubber or plastic containers. These should be used for any products that need protection, such as cereals, flour, cookies and the like. Sanitation of fecal matter left by the mice in the house should be done when your hands are completely protected, and with materials that you can toss out once the dirty job is completed. Bleach is a wonderful element for killing any and all germs, viruses, and bacteria which may have been left behind, but ammonia or disinfectant cleansers will suffice as well.
Once this task has been conquered it, will be time for you to begin sealing the exterior of your home. This can be time consuming, but when there are mice in the house it is absolutely necessary. Using caulk, drywall mud, or any other strong compound, you will need to seal any and all cracks and holes at your foundation, eaves, windows, and siding. You already have to figure out how to get the mice in the house out, so you certainly don’t want to add to the problem by allowing more to creep in. now that these measures have been taken, you will need to decide on your methods for killing or removing the mice in the house.
Glue traps are not recommended whatsoever, and in fact are under threat by the Humane Society and PETA of being banned for use in the U.S. as they have been in Ireland. These traps are a horrible way to go, and cause much pain, stress, and suffering to the little creatures. Fast kill methods include spring or snap traps, poisons, electrocution boxes, and gas chamber boxes. Also consider the ever popular live trap methods which allow for the safe captivity of many mice at once. These will need to be checked and released often, as stress and fear can cause death to these curious little rodents.