The weather here in Plano may not reach extreme temperatures in the fall and winter, which means seasonal pests tend to be less of an issue, but unfortunately, mice are a year-round problem. House mice are some of the most common residential pests in North America, weaseling their way into homes in every single state and bringing all kinds of problems with them. House mice are dangerous pests to have in your Plano home, and if they keep managing to find a way inside, it's time to figure out why.
House Mice In Plano: What They Look Like And Why They're Dangerous
House mice are fairly small rodents, and from the point of their nose to the tip of their tail, they're only around seven inches in length. They have tawny brown fur, large rounded ears, a pointed nose, and a long hairless tail. Their underbellies are a tad lighter in color, but overall they tend to be that uniform tawny brown. They can fit through incredibly tight spaces and only need a hole the circumference of a ball-point pen, which they can easily make themselves with their strong incisors.
Rodents have incisors that are continually growing, and that means they have to chew to keep them filed down constantly. This may be a practical evolutionary advantage for them since they use their teeth for pretty much everything, but this makes for a very dangerous situation for Plano homeowners. House mice can chew through wood and paper products, plastic, rubber, electrical wires, and even low-gauge steel siding. This isn't the only dangerous situation they bring to homes either – house mice are carriers for all kinds of bacteria and pathogens:
- Hantavirus
- Gastroenteritis
- Leptospirosis
- Plague
- Typhoid Fever
- Salmonella
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
- Other pests – ticks, fleas, parasitic worms
Tips To Prevent House Mice From Infesting Your Plano Home
With their ability to squeeze through the smallest holes and incredibly strong teeth, trying to prevent a house mouse infestation may seem impossible. While it's a difficult task to achieve successfully, it's not impossible, and any preventative measures you take will significantly reduce your chances of an unwanted infestation:
- Seal up any potential entrances around the exterior of your home; foundation, siding, exposed wood, around wires and pipes, roof, and trim
- Fill in any ground holes around your property
- Clean up any leaf and mulch piles from your yard, and remove any miscellaneous debris
- Install a two-foot wide cement or gravel barrier around the base of your property – mice hate gravel
- Keep tight-fitting lids on all indoor and outdoor trash cans
- Store dried foods in airtight containers, and never leave food sitting out overnight
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly to keep food particles off the floor
- Wipe down counters, food prep areas, and dining tables daily
- Clear out the clutter – mice like cozy little spots that stay undisturbed, and stored boxes are perfect nesting locations for them
How To Handle An Ongoing House Mouse Infestation In Your Plano Home
Many people think carefully laid and frequently refreshed traps will eventually clear out a mouse infestation, but that's not how it works. Mice are intelligent creatures and traps only catch a handful of them before they tunnel deeper into hiding. Instead of pulling your hair out in frustration, DANCAN The Pest Control Expert can handle it for you.
The owner of DANCAN founded this pest control company for one singular purpose – to provide Texas residents with the exceptional pest control that they deserve. Big label companies may get a lot of press and advertising, but they tend to compromise on quality. We make a promise to each customer to provide fast, reliable, and effective pest control services at affordable prices, and we back each treatment with our guarantee. If you notice pests resurfacing after we've treated your property, we come right back out and treat again at no additional cost. So get in contact with us today and kiss those furry menaces goodbye.