Key facts about mice
Mice originated in the steppes of Central Asia. They were reportedly found in this country as early as the 9th Century, when and how will continue to remain unsolved. Certainly as agricultural practices improved man’s harvests, the need for greater storage facilities were created, thus providing more food and nesting sites for mice and rats.
House mice will drink water if available but can survive on food with a moisture content of 15%. It is omnivorous, feeding from a number of different points. Whole wheat, which has been partly eaten by mice, has a kibbled appearance whilst whole grain, partly eaten by rats, has a cut or chopped appearance. However mice will eat almost anything they find in a house. Elsewhere on our website we have a lot more facts about mice you might not know, so check out our blog.
Were will you find them?
In a house, you will find them in the kitchen, under units, behind fridges, behind bath panels, under stair cupboards and boiler and airing cupboards to name just a few places. In the past we have had to deal with a mouse getting stuck in a toaster but this is very rare.
Mice live in nests made of shredded materials in your wall cavities, ceilings, or behind fridges and other large appliances. The health risks posed by mice infestations and mouse control should not be taken lightly.
Mice are visible at night when they search for food, and remain hidden during the day. The following signs are an indication of a serious infestation of mice.
How do you know if you have mice?
These rodents are active at night, so you are likely to hear an unusual scratching noise under the floorboards, in the loft, and in partition walls or ceilings.
- You have mice living in the house when you see fresh droppings scattered randomly inside kitchen cabinets, on surfaces or on your floors. Kitchens in particular attract mice because of the presence of food.
- Gnaw marks around the home may indicate that the house is infested with mice. You may see nibble marks on food packaging, newspapers, and plastic or wooden items around your home.
- Cats and dogs may get excited. You may see them pawing in unusual places where they have never shown interest in before, they could be alerting you to the presence of mice.
- You may see tracks and tail marks on dusty surfaces. This is especially noticeable in dusty spaces like garages and attics
- You may notice an acrid smell in the air since mice urinate frequently. They do this to mark their territory or keep track of where they have visited. Because of this, there is a build-up of their urine, so you are likely to experience a pungent ammonia-like smell.
- The house may have a foul odour when these rodents die in the walls or under floorboards.
- Mice also leave grease marks wherever they pass. If you have a mouse infestation, you may notice dark smears in places such as corners or holes that they pass through regularly.
Small gaps around pipework, floors and external walls can give mice surprisingly easy access to a property. Our home pest control services address both the infestation and potential entry routes Businesses experiencing mouse activity can use our commercial pest management services for targeted treatment, tracking, regular checks and practical recommendations designed around the individual premises.
Diamond mouse control London
How do we control mice?
Like most cities, mice are common in London, so we have a lot of experience. Our technician will initially talk through the problems you are experiencing and explain what our treatment entails. He will then carry out a thorough inspection of your premises prior to any treatment and assess the level and extent of the infestation. Once we establish this, he will then be able to carry out treatment to the appropriate areas.
All our treatments are completely safe for children and animals. We place baits in plastic tamper resistant bait boxes where necessary. Once our treatment is complete we will detail our work in an inspection report and leave this with you, our technician will then arrange a convenient time to carry out a follow up visit.
Our follow up service
For mouse control, we need to carry out at least one follow up visit. The usual follow-up time after the initial baiting programme has been established is 7-10 days.
The first follow up will let us know how bad the infestation was and where you have had evidence of mice. The technician will re-bait as necessary and arrange the second follow up with you if required or this visit will tell us that the premises is all clear and our technician will proof and give you advice on preventing mice in the future.
The treatment comes with a three month guarantee which comes into effect on the date of the final treatment visit. Mice are highly adaptable and can find their way into properties through remarkably small openings, making them a problem in buildings of every age and size. Our mouse control service extends across South London and West London. East London and North London, covering houses, flats and commercial premises. We identify signs of activity, locate likely access points and use effective treatments alongside practical proofing advice to provide a more complete approach to mouse control.