At 3:00am I was startled awake by an strange sound. I wasn’t sure what it was, I only knew it was loud and out of place. It was the echoing sounds of something chewing, gnawing, scratching … there was a mouse in the house! The sound was so loud I was quite convinced that it was a LARGE rat. So, I did what every woman loves to do … I startled my husband awake with, “I hear something!” He was up in a flash. I LOVE that part! He immediately recognized the sound, grabbed a shoe (not exactly the weapon of choice, but at 3:00am you take whatever is handy) and off he went. It didn’t take long to realize that the sound was echoing out of the A/C air return vent. He opened the door and the tiny little creature with large beady eyes charged at him. The fight was on!
The cooler temps of the fall always seems to bring with them these uninvited guests, and they would love nothing better than to share your home and food with you all winter long. As with any unwanted situation, the best strategy is early prevention. Mice are prolific breeders. Where there is one today, there will be many more in short order. But because mice are nocturnal creatures, sleeping by day and working by night, you may not be aware you have them till the damage is done. Mice are nibblers, and they are very busy little creatures, making 20 to 30 visits to food sources each night. Your home and food will be quickly contaminated by their urine and droppings … GROSS!
Fall is the perfect time to do a some preventive maintenance where pest control is concerned. Mice can make their way in through very small holes around pipes and vents in the walls, floors, and roof of your home. Pest control specialists suggests filling every known free space with steel wool. Apparently, mice cannot, or will not, eat through steel wool. If you are already aware of mouse activity, set several traps near the area. I’ve read that cheese is only an old wives tale and that the better bait is peanut butter or a cotton ball with vanilla flavoring. I learned something else new too, it’s best to place the ’snap trap’ perpendicular to the wall, with the bait and the snap bar next to the wall, because mice like to run along the edges and this position helps trap the critter between the wall and the snap bar.
Snap traps are only one of the many types of rodent control. Building a better mouse trap has been an age old pursuit. The type of trap is really a personal preference … the most important part is early intervention.
If your pest control problem requires more than a couple of traps, you may want to hire a professional exterminator. Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List – from electrician to physician – Use promo code “SAVE TEN” for $10 off!
When the rodents are gone, you’ll be healthier, happier, and much better prepared to entertain during the holiday season.
Tags:
pest control,
preventive maintenance
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