Edmonton's Premier Exterminator Company
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Mice:
Alberta is home to seven types of mice and twelve types of voles, while around the world there is more then 130 different species that have been identified. The most destructive species found in Alberta is the Meadow vole or field mouse, the house mouse and the white footed mouse.
The economic loss due to mice is difficult to calculate as they can contaminate food stuffs and buildings. Mice eat relatively little food compared to the waste they leave behind. In a six-month period two mice can eat roughly two kilograms of food but drop around 18,000 droppings. They don’t just like food, mice are very fond of eating rigid foam insulation, fiberglass insulation, and other commonly used types of insulation in walls and attic spaces found in most structures in Alberta. Electrical wiring is not safe and when gnawed on by mice or other rodents can and has caused many fires which are classified as “cause unknown.”
Mice also carry diseases which are harmful to humans and other animals. Hanta Virus being commonly known, various types of worms, such as ringworm, tape worm just to name a few.
It is advised not to handle wild mice with bare hands, NOT to keep them as pets for science projects and to de-worm your house hold pets on a regular basis if they come into contact with mice.
The economic loss due to mice is difficult to calculate as they can contaminate food stuffs and buildings. Mice eat relatively little food compared to the waste they leave behind. In a six-month period two mice can eat roughly two kilograms of food but drop around 18,000 droppings. They don’t just like food, mice are very fond of eating rigid foam insulation, fiberglass insulation, and other commonly used types of insulation in walls and attic spaces found in most structures in Alberta. Electrical wiring is not safe and when gnawed on by mice or other rodents can and has caused many fires which are classified as “cause unknown.”
Mice also carry diseases which are harmful to humans and other animals. Hanta Virus being commonly known, various types of worms, such as ringworm, tape worm just to name a few.
It is advised not to handle wild mice with bare hands, NOT to keep them as pets for science projects and to de-worm your house hold pets on a regular basis if they come into contact with mice.
What is the best pest control for mice?
When it comes to pest control for mice, several methods exist that are proven effective. It is essential that the chosen method be safe, efficient, and environmentally-friendly - typically this means combining preventive measures, exclusion techniques, and targeted treatments together in one plan.
Preventive Measures:
It is vitally important to take preventive steps against mice infestations in order to keep your property free from mouse infestation. Preventive measures aim at eliminating conditions that attract them, making your property less attractive for them, such as:
1. Sanitation: Maintaining a clean home or business with food debris free surfaces is one way to deter mice. Ensure food items are stored in sealed containers and any spills or leaks are cleaned up as soon as they occur.
2. Sealing Entry Points: Mice can gain entry through small cracks and openings in walls, floors, and foundations. Inspect your property for any potential entryways that could allow mice into your property and seal any potential entrance way's with caulk or other appropriate material.
3. Practice Proper Waste Management: Always place garbage in tightly sealed containers that are regularly emptied to reduce mice attraction to your property. Doing this will help deter mice from making an appearance on your premises.
4. Landscaping Maintenance: Keep tree limbs away from buildings and ensure shrubbery remains in good shape to reduce potential hiding places for mice.
Exclusion Techniques:
Exclusion techniques involve physically blocking mice from entering your property or certain areas within it. These measures can be particularly useful when combined with preventive measures and can include techniques like:
1. Sealing Gaps: Steel wool or wire mesh can help fill in any gaps around pipes, vents, and other openings that cannot be completely sealed with caulk.
2. Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps on exterior doors to deter mice from entering through small gaps at the bottom. This will stop them from making entry through small crevices at the base.
3. Window Screens: Make sure your windows have screens with no tears or holes that could allow mice into your home.
4. Air Brick Covers: Cover air bricks with fine mesh or wire to stop mice from entering through ventilation openings.
Targeted Treatments:
If preventive measures and exclusion techniques do not work to control mice infestations, targeted treatments may be used to combat infestations. These treatments aim to rid of existing mice while stopping their reproduction - some effective targeted treatments include:
1. Traps: Different kinds of traps exist, including snap traps, glue traps and live-catch traps. Snap traps are especially effective, and may even be baited with food to lure mice inside them.
2. Rodenticides: Rodenticides are chemical substances designed to kill mice. Their use should be handled according to manufacturer instructions to minimize risks to humans, pets and non-target animals.
3. Ultrasonic Devices: Ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sound waves which may be uncomfortable for mice, potentially deterring them from an area. However, their effectiveness remains uncertain among experts.
While these methods may help in controlling mice infestations, for severe or persistent infestations it may be wiser to consult a professional pest control service that has the experience and knowhow to accurately assess the situation and implement the most suitable methods of mouse control.
Preventive Measures:
It is vitally important to take preventive steps against mice infestations in order to keep your property free from mouse infestation. Preventive measures aim at eliminating conditions that attract them, making your property less attractive for them, such as:
1. Sanitation: Maintaining a clean home or business with food debris free surfaces is one way to deter mice. Ensure food items are stored in sealed containers and any spills or leaks are cleaned up as soon as they occur.
2. Sealing Entry Points: Mice can gain entry through small cracks and openings in walls, floors, and foundations. Inspect your property for any potential entryways that could allow mice into your property and seal any potential entrance way's with caulk or other appropriate material.
3. Practice Proper Waste Management: Always place garbage in tightly sealed containers that are regularly emptied to reduce mice attraction to your property. Doing this will help deter mice from making an appearance on your premises.
4. Landscaping Maintenance: Keep tree limbs away from buildings and ensure shrubbery remains in good shape to reduce potential hiding places for mice.
Exclusion Techniques:
Exclusion techniques involve physically blocking mice from entering your property or certain areas within it. These measures can be particularly useful when combined with preventive measures and can include techniques like:
1. Sealing Gaps: Steel wool or wire mesh can help fill in any gaps around pipes, vents, and other openings that cannot be completely sealed with caulk.
2. Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps on exterior doors to deter mice from entering through small gaps at the bottom. This will stop them from making entry through small crevices at the base.
3. Window Screens: Make sure your windows have screens with no tears or holes that could allow mice into your home.
4. Air Brick Covers: Cover air bricks with fine mesh or wire to stop mice from entering through ventilation openings.
Targeted Treatments:
If preventive measures and exclusion techniques do not work to control mice infestations, targeted treatments may be used to combat infestations. These treatments aim to rid of existing mice while stopping their reproduction - some effective targeted treatments include:
1. Traps: Different kinds of traps exist, including snap traps, glue traps and live-catch traps. Snap traps are especially effective, and may even be baited with food to lure mice inside them.
2. Rodenticides: Rodenticides are chemical substances designed to kill mice. Their use should be handled according to manufacturer instructions to minimize risks to humans, pets and non-target animals.
3. Ultrasonic Devices: Ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sound waves which may be uncomfortable for mice, potentially deterring them from an area. However, their effectiveness remains uncertain among experts.
While these methods may help in controlling mice infestations, for severe or persistent infestations it may be wiser to consult a professional pest control service that has the experience and knowhow to accurately assess the situation and implement the most suitable methods of mouse control.
