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Mice may be tiny creatures, but they are undesirable guests for homeowners. Just one or two mice searching for food or building nests can quickly cause a lot of damage to your house—not to mention the number of diseases they are known to carry. Protect your home by knowing the following signs of an infestation and employing a pest control company to keep them out.

How to Keep Mice Out

Mice can fit through tiny holes and gaps in walls, doors, and windows that homeowners might not typically find problematic. These determined rodents can also chew and claw their way through plumbing to enter your home through its drains, so pest control can be difficult but not impossible.

Safeguard your home by repairing all window and door screens and installing sweeps on exterior doors. Next, inspect the siding and all exterior features for gaps and cracks, including pipes and wires leading inside. Repair or seal them with caulk, mortar, steel wool, or weatherstripping.

Inside the house, place all dry foods in airtight containers. Regularly check for leaking pipes and clogged drains that would provide mice with a water source. Outside, keep the lawn and shrubs cut short and trimmed back from the house. Store firewood at least 20 feet away, and regularly clean your gutters to remove debris mice can use for nesting.

How to Tell If You Have Mice

pest controlSometimes, even the most thorough pest control methods won’t stop mice from finding a way into your home. Fortunately, when they invade, they tend to leave behind obvious signs. Look for droppings and urine odors, gnaw and scratch marks on walls and doors, and shredded paper or other pliable materials.

Mice also tend to be more active at night, so you can likely hear them running about or squeaking during their hunt for food and nesting materials. If you have pets, you’ll probably also notice that they appear more on-edge as they sniff behind appliances or pieces of furniture.

 

If you suspect mice have invaded your home, contact the professionals at Garella Pest Services in Staunton, IL. For over 75 years, this family-owned business has provided residential and commercial pest control services to southwest and south-central Illinois. Their skilled technicians are trained in the latest control techniques. Call (618) 635 7378 to schedule an appointment, and visit their website to learn more about their services.

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