It’s Rodent Awareness Week!

Surely you’re already aware of these pests, so we thought we’d put your mind at ease with some tips and truths about keeping your home pest free during Rodent Awareness Week.

The common “house mouse,” otherwise known as “Mus Musculus,” can be cute as a pet or cartoon, i.e. Mickey Mouse, but in reality, mice have the ability to cause real damage to our homes. Despite their size, they can penetrate holes the size of a dime, and can adapt quickly to a variety of conditions. In the fall, rats begin to seek shelter and a warm place to nest for winter. While you may not see them during the day, you might hear them within your walls at night and see their droppings in the morning. If you notice evidence of a rodent in your home, you’ll want to call a pest control service immediately—before the rodent decides to start its own family in the walls of your home.

A few more reasons why rodents can pose a threat to your home:

• Mice like to chew, specifically on wiring, posing a risk for an electrical fire.
• They aren’t house trained. Mice urinate wherever, and because they tend to gravitate to a food source i.e. your kitchen. There is a real risk that these pests may contaminate your next holiday feast.
• Their reproductive growth period lasts from 19-21 days. A single mouse can bear 3-14 mice, 5 to 10 times per year. That’s a possibility of up to 140 unwanted houseguests per female.
• Mice live for 2-3 years, so unlike standard insects, they have more opportunities to reproduce.

Tips to reduce the chances of activity:

1. Declutter– Clutter provides pests with many places to hide out. One of the first steps toward rodent control is to remove their food and nesting sources by cleaning out the pantry, attic, and basement of unwanted clutter while storing supplies in sealed containers.
2. Seal cracks around your home– Every home has unwanted openings and cracks in screens, weather stripping, and around doors and windows where pests can find their way into your home.
3. Maintain your backyard– Trim your bushes, eliminate standing water, keep the lawn mowed, and remove debris. You’ll not only eliminate pests but improve the beauty of your home.
4. Move firewood away from your house– While stacking the wood near your home is convenient, it is also a cozy place for rodents to hide. Keep your firewood twent feet from your home and proceed with caution before bringing logs inside.
5. Inspect your home– You are only a phone call away from having a skilled professional identify your pest risks and prevent rodents from entering your home in the future.

These tips are great as a starting point, however, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. ECOLA experts are trained and eager to help you find the best solution for you and your home. Feel free to call our experts today! (818) 920-7301.

For Rodent Awareness Week, Ecola is offering new customers $100 off any rodent exclusion or termite service. So call for your free inspection today at 1-800-332-BUGS (2847), fill out the attached form or visit TermiteLady.com. Escrows excluded.

For more information about the “House Mouse” and it’s habits, click on the sources below:
Wikipedia Live Science
Do Mice Really Love Cheese?