Streator's Complete Guide To Effective Mouse Prevention And Control

Mice are undesirable pests that threaten your household's health and safety, as they can spread dangerous pathogens quickly, cause structural damage to homes, and reproduce incredibly fast. Having them in your home could expose you to leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, salmonella, and more, leading to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Left untreated, some of these illnesses might require hospitalization. Mice in Illinois are not always considered pests. Outside, rodents perform multiple purposes, from fertilizing the soil with their droppings and aerating it by digging tunnels to preying on some insects and serving as a food source for foxes, owls, and even snakes. They are also instrumental in seed propagation. However, mice can cause significant problems if they settle inside your home. If you have seen even one mouse in your home, there is a big chance that more of these social creatures are hiding inside walls and under appliances. If so, it is time to learn about the habits and behaviors of rats and mice, discover the dangerous diseases they are known to spread, and try five simple yet effective mouse prevention tips around the house. If you are struggling with a mouse problem, Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators Inc provides rodent pest control in Streator, IL, that is effective and dependable. Don't let rodents cause you stress and keep you up at night. Eliminating them is simpler than you might think.

Habits And Behaviors Of Mice

Much research has been done on mice, and understanding their social structure and needs can make it easier to control them and keep them away from our homes. Some of the most common habits and behaviors include the following:

• Mice are social creatures: Mice prefer to live together rather than alone, which means that if you see one mouse, you probably have more, usually one to two dozen. They often have a social hierarchy and raise their offspring in a communal nest.

• Mice dig holes and tunnels to stay away from people: You might not see mice in the early stages of an infestation because they try to hide from people as much as possible. They do so by digging tunnels in walls and holes they can run into at the first sign of danger. You know you might have mice in your home if you hear noises in the walls or find damaged walls or paneling. 

• Mice reproduce very quickly: Mice reproduce exponentially, and only a few mice can promptly lead to a full-on infestation. A single female can birth close to 50 offspring in one year, and it only takes a couple of months for them to start reproducing. This is an excellent reason not to waste time on DIY rodent control strategies that are often ineffective.

Mice prefer to live in large groups and reproduce very quickly and effectively. If you find signs of a mouse problem in your home, it is time to learn about the dangerous diseases they are known to spread.

The Dangerous Diseases Mice Are Known To Spread

Mice are known to spread leptospira, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, the plague, typhus, salmonella, tularemia, and more. Some of the pathogens involved are more common than others in the U.S., but it is a fact that having rodents in your home can make it a lot more likely for you to get sick. Some symptoms to look for are fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle aches, headaches, diarrhea, bloody stools, and rashes. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical treatments as soon as possible and mention that you have found signs of mice in your house. To lower your risk of having these unhygienic scavengers on your property, it is always best to implement prevention tips to keep them away. Read on for some of the simplest yet most effective ones. 

Five Simple Yet Effective Mouse Prevention Tips For Around The House

Pest control treatments are only the tip of the iceberg. If you do not address the factors that have led mice to invade, preventing infestations from returning will be much more challenging. Fortunately, the following five simple yet effective tips can significantly help prevent rodents from settling on your property:

1. Make it difficult for mice to get into your food: Mice need food to survive. While they would likely prefer to feast on insects, fruits, and seeds while enjoying temperate weather year-round, they will not hesitate to invade heated homes where food is plentiful. Mice prefer carbohydrates like bread, flour, chocolate, and baked goods. However, they will also go for high-fat foods like peanut butter. To prevent mice from invading your pantry, transferring foods to sturdy plastic containers with tight-fitting lids can be helpful. You will also want to store leftovers in the fridge or dispose of them as soon as you are done eating. Emptying garbage cans and keeping them cleaned and closed at all times will also help.

2. Seal all convenient access points: As soon as the weather cools, warm and sheltered areas tend to draw mice indoors. They are much more likely to invade homes with accessible entry points like damaged roofs, garages with gaps under the door, and cracks in walls and foundations. A pest control company can examine the structure of your house during the initial inspection to find out where mice are coming in and what you can do about it, which can be helpful as some areas can be hard to reach.

3. Fix leaks and dehumidify your home: Many pests, including mice, are attracted to high-humidity homes. This can be due to leaks going unnoticed or needing fixing or the natural humidity in the air. Be sure to fix all damaged pipes, remove sources of stagnant water like blocked storm drains, and ensure that water is not seeping into your foundations. A dehumidifier can help if placed in the humid areas of your house. And, of course, fans in bathrooms can help, especially if you run them after hot and steamy showers and baths.

4. Declutter low-traffic rooms: Mice and rodents, in general, prefer to stay away from human activity, which is why they will often take over low-traffic spaces like attics and basements, as well as rooms that you might not use frequently. These areas are often a source of clutter, and avoiding stacking them full of cardboard boxes, discarded furniture, and more is essential. This will prevent them from taking over and allow you to notice a mouse infestation sooner than you might otherwise.

5. Keep your yard well maintained: Mice thrive outdoors, and a significant mouse population in your yard will make it more likely for them to come inside. Just as keeping your home decluttered is a critical prevention strategy, keeping your yard free of debris, leaf piles, kiddie pools, and more is also best. Trimming bushes and trees and planting them as far from your home's structure as possible can also help. 

It is always a good time for prevention strategies like these. However, they are only sometimes effective enough to keep infestations at bay. In addition to these prevention strategies, scheduling regular inspections between treatments is always a good idea.

Professional Rodent Control Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Mice

The best way to get rid of mice is with quality local rodent control. At Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, we have a whole team of experts trained to provide mouse control in Streator, IL, that is safe, effective, and works year-round to ensure your infestation does not return. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection and learn more about our five-step process. Our licensed technicians will come to your home and determine why and how pests like rodents and other invaders are able to make their way inside. We will then listen to your concerns and consider your unique needs before developing a treatment plan that works for you, including exterior and interior treatments, pest monitoring devices, trapping, sealing off entry points, and more. Our plans include follow-up visits to lower the chances of recurring infestations and reduce the need for chemical treatments. Our knowledgeable and customer-focused team is here to answer all your questions, including the cost of pest control services, frequency of visits, the safety of treatments, and rodent control products that are safe for pets. If you are noticing signs of a mouse infestation, there is no time to waste because they reproduce prolifically and exponentially as they spread pathogens throughout your home.

Mice are a common problem in Central Illinois, especially in the winter when they try to escape the cold and snow to find food and shelter indoors. These social creatures are a threat to the health and safety of your household. Still, you can exterminate them swiftly with the right strategies. While eliminating them can seem daunting on your own, we can help you do it safely and effectively while keeping your pets and family safe with some of the best-rated mouse control services in the area.