Do You Need a Mouse Exterminator? Here are Some Reasons to Hire Him.

Do You Need a Mouse Exterminator?

Are you frustrated with mice sneaking into your New Jersey home? Unfortunately, mice infesting homes in the area isn’t a recent problem. According to an article published by New Scientist, human beings and mice have been battling over shelter for at least 15,000 years. This was way before people learned how to farm and store food, according to the article.

The first step to coping with these invasive rodents is to learn some basic facts about them. The more you know, the better you can prevent infestations in the first place. Here is some interesting information that you can use to get started.

Source: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/pat/files/2019/11/house-mouse-2.jpg

These Aren’t Cuddly Critters

Whether your place in the Garden State is urban or rural, you will see a few mice. At first glance, mice have all the characteristics of a cutesy, fuzzy, loveable critter. It’s no wonder, especially since they’re related to other enduring rodents like rabbits, hamsters, squirrels, and Guinea pigs.

There’s something adorable about their tiny furry faces with oversized ears, beady eyes, and pointy noses. Romantic notions of these squeaky furballs have inspired children’s art, music, and literature for generations. Notice that the iconic animation company and theme parks are centered around a mouse, not a squirrel.

Before you feel all glittery-eyed and nostalgic, remember that the mouse’s closest cousin is the rat. We’re not talking about the cuddly one cartoons either, as it’s the real-life disgusting vermin that dig through the filth and carry a plethora of diseases.

Source: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu

Alarming Statistics

Perhaps you think that if you’ve seen one mouse, you’ve seen them all. While mouse characteristics are pretty standard, mouse species represent a large portion of the rodent order. Experts say that there are at least 1,100 mouse species in the world, and 200 live in North America alone.

Three of these species call New Jersey their home: the standard house mouse, deer mouse, and white-footed mouse. Any of these three have the potential of leaving the fields and woods in favor of your cozy home. Once they’ve got a teensy white foot in the door, they can invite others and multiply in little time.

Should I Call a Mouse Exterminator?

Most people head to the store to buy traps and bait when they see mice in their home, as they see this as a common issue that they can take care of themselves. However, this will not resolve an infestation, especially if you don’t know what type of mouse or even a rat you’re harboring.

Have you got up close and personal with these pests? Do you know if you have mice or rats? You could even have a mole in the mix too. The key is you need to call for professional extermination help now! The cost will vary greatly, so you can get an estimate based on the size of your home, the extent of the problem, and other factors.

Sure, there are DIY alternatives, but nothing will ever take the place of a trained professional when dealing with these dangerous vermin. You will only control the overgrowth population though, which only will work if you just have a small number of rodents. For a significant job, you need a powerful ally fighting the battle.

If you see mice at an alarming rate, it’s concerning. The real problem is that you have no clue what lurks in your walls. Few will venture out from the nests, and many more prefer to stay warm and cozy nursing babies and managing their “home.”

Anyone can have one mouse get in their house, but if you’re seeing more than one, there’s a more significant issue at play. Many folks do not know that rodent infestations require professional treatment to take care of the problem. Additionally, people always think termites are the only ones that can cause structural issues in their homes, but this is not the case.

Did you know that chewing vermin can also cause thousands of dollars in damages? The longer you wait to call for help, the more expensive it will be to eradicate this situation. If you don’t act quick enough, you will see droppings, hear scratching in the walls, and see and hear them move about all through your house.

Evidence that an Exterminator is Needed

Most people want proof that they can’t use DIY alternatives and save themselves money. Here is a list of things that, if you see, indicate the need to call for help.

Bite marks on furniture
Chewing on wires
Smudge marks on the walls or floors
Fecal matter on kitchen counters or in other areas of the home
Scratching and squeaking coming from walls and ceiling
Rodents wandering around the home during the daytime

These are all indications that the problem has gotten out of hand. The mice are spreading throughout your property, and you need to deal with it as soon as possible. When a mouse is forced from their breeding chambers, it’s because it’s now overcrowded, and they need to make an additional nest.

So while they’re strolling through your home, they’re looking for a new spot to procreate and settle down. Mice build nests where they can remain close to a food or water source. They will use your HVAC ducts and any other tunnels to get throughout your home. They prefer to stay hidden as this protects them. Here are some things to consider about your infestation that you can share with your exterminator.

•Number Of Pests

It would help if you remembered that you would never see the entire mouse population that lives within your home. For all the mice you see, there will be many more you never lay eyes on. While you can’t know the number in your home, you can gauge your issue by the amount of dog food missing, the paw marks on the floors and counters, and the amount of droppings you’re finding. Your exterminator will want to know these things.

•Pungent Smells

When there are many mice in your home, you will notice a particular odor that’s quite intense. The issue can come from a few things. First, several vermin defecating and urinating all over the place will have a stench, but there will also be dead mice rotting in the walls when there’s overcrowding. All of these aromas can leave your property smelling quite horrible. Is there a specific area where the smell is worse? Let the exterminator know this information.

•Noises

Scratching noises are commonplace when there’s an infestation. You may hear it under the floorboards, in the walls, or in your ceiling. If you have a basement or attic, you may hear scratching in these locations too. You can follow the sounds using your ears to see where they’re nesting. For instance, if you constantly listen to mice in the bathroom above the shower, then you can ensure there’s a nest close to this location.

•Indications

Mice may be small, but they sure have a hefty appetite. They’re not picky as they will eat whatever they find. Have you noticed them tunneling through the bread in the kitchen, eating the dog food, or are they chewing their way into the breakfast cereals? They also love to crawl in toasters and eat the crumbs left behind.

Any area where a mouse has been, is now toxic. Destroy any food they have touched. You can’t clean a toaster due to the electrical components, so throw it out. Keep your toaster emptied and covered to protect it.

•Droppings

Mice can’t control their bowel movements, so as they walk, they defecate. If you see droppings in an area, then you know that mice are not far off. Any mouse that uses the bathroom a lot is being well fed, so you need to observe the location of these droppings. Your exterminator will want to know the area where you see the most, as their nest is probably not far from this location.

Final Thoughts on Hiring a Mouse Exterminator

If you’re asking yourself if you need to hire an exterminator, the chances are the situation is already far beyond your control. You can spend a small fortune on bait and traps, only to find out you still have an issue. It helps to plug any holes around plumbing or that lead to the outside, as the entry points are significant in this process.

If you have any holes the size of a pencil, a mouse can squeeze their small body into this spot. It’s imperative that you call for help sooner rather than later, as the cost will increase as the situation worsens. Think of a serious rodent issue like a trip to the dentist.

You don’t want to deal with it, you wish it wasn’t happening to you in the first place, but you have no choice but to drop everything and fix it. Oh, the relief when they pull that tooth or get rid of that last mouse that’s causing you grief. Is it going to cost you money?