The first tell-tale signs that you have a mice issue are droppings. Droppings are small, oval, and black and typically don’t smell. Please don’t touch them, but you can take a photo of them to show your exterminator.
The most common areas that droppings are found are under sinks, in pantries, and behind appliances. In pantries, in particular, you may find chew marks on boxed goods or bread.
More unusual places we have found evidence of mice are in living room couches! Once at one customer’s home, I lifted up the couch cushions and found droppings among candy wrappers, and the stuffing of the couch all collected together. These mice were also hoarding dog food!
How can you tell if you have a little mouse problem or a mice problem?
The number of droppings you find will tell if you find a mouse or you have an infestation! Finding just one dropping is more than enough cause, though, to call for pest control. One mouse can excrete ten droppings in an hour. If you see lots of droppings all over, you know you have a lot of activity.
There are two different species of mice in the Chicagoland area: deer mice and house mice. House mice typically stay inside your home and take advantage of the food supply indirectly supplied by the home dwellers. Deer mice will come and go from your house. They tend to forage for food and bring it back inside the home. Deer mice are larger; they have white bellies and can have brown or gray fur. House mice are smaller and all gray. Both pose problems, and you should call pest control.
At Grizz Pest Management, we approach each rodent program in two parts. The most important part of treatment is to seal entry points on the home/building exterior. Entry points don’t have to be big — a mouse can squeeze into a hole the size of the dime.
The second part is identifying the pathways and placing bait and snap traps in the high activity areas inside the home. A complete rodent program takes between eight to twelve weeks. At two months of age, a baby mouse is weaned from the nest; they are reproductively active at three months. We not only make sure no new mice are coming into the house, but any mice in the home are eliminated over time.
Prevention tips:
- Keep wood piles and leaf litter away from the foundation of your home.
- Remove ivy from the house.
- Practice overall cleanliness in and around your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grizz Pest Management Answers our top mouse questions asked by our customers.
Can my dog get sick from eating a dead mouse?
Mice do carry diseases, so make sure to take your pet to the vet if you discover they have consumed any dead animal.
Do you use glue boards?
We don’t use it in residential settings because most people prefer a more humane way of extermination.
Are mouse droppings dangerous?
They can be in large quantities. Be sure to remove them and disinfect the area.
What is the difference between mouse droppings and bat droppings?
Although very similar in size and color, bat droppings are larger. Mouse droppings are smooth and hard. Bat droppings are rough and will turn to powder when crushed.
Is there any time of year that mice are more active
Most people notice them more in the fall and winter, but mice are active all year long.