Mice Control Wirral
Have you heard some unusual scratching and scuttling in your home or business? Perhaps this is coming from above your head, behind your units or underneath your floorboards? If this sounds familiar, then it’s safe to safe you’ve definitely got some unwanted guests- mice to be precise!
We cover the Wirral and the North West.
Having mice in your home or business can be incredibly distressing, not only are they one of the most feared pests they can also spread diseases and cause extensive damage! Mice are active all year round and are one of the most common pests we are called out to treat. Here at Defender Pest Control, we can provide you with the foremost effective and guaranteed solution to any mouse problem you may be experiencing- just contact one of our friendly advisors today!
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Mouse Biology
There are hundreds of different species of mice across the world, they are mostly considered to be pests, but some are specially bred to be kept as pets. There are 3 main species that invade our homes in the UK, they are the House Mouse, the Field Mouse, and the Yellow Necked Field Mouse. If you have encountered a mouse in your home or business the most likely culprit is the Mus Musculus domesticus otherwise known as the House mouse. The House mouse is known as a commensal rodent, this means they live with or in close proximity to humans- hence why they are the most likely we come across.
Types of Mouse
It is estimated that there are over 2500 species of flea in the world. In the UK there are many species but below are the most common that affect homes and businesses nationwide.
The House Mouse
The House mouse is a light brown/ grey colour and measures between 60-90mm in length (their tail is the size of their body again so with a fully extended tail they can measure up to 180mm). They have small feet with big eyes and ears, and weigh between 12-30g. House mice have around 7-8 litters per year with 4-16 mice per litter (when a mouse is between 8-12 weeks old they are able to sexually reproduce themselves). House mice typically eat around 3g of food per day- their preferred food is cereal, and they can survive without water for a substantial time.
The Field Mouse
The Field mouse has a sandy/ orange brown body with a white coloured stomach. Their head and body measures between 80-100mm and their tail adds between 70-90mm to their overall length. Due to their habitat which is mainly outdoors they have bigger eyes and ears than a House mice- this is to help them avoid predators. Field mice have longer tails than house mice which makes them good agile climbers. They can weigh between 20-25g, and the elder of the population are slightly greyer in colour. Field mice tend to feed on seeds, snails, other insects, apples, and newly planted legume seeds. They tend to live between 2-3 months, but they can survive up to 20 months in the wild and even longer in captivity. The Field mouse can venture inside properties but tends to pose a bigger problem to farming and agriculture businesses where fruits and vegetables are stored outdoors.
The Yellow Necked Field Mouse
Yellow Necked Field mice have a brown torso with a white underneath and a distinctive band of yellow around their neck. Their head and body measures between 95-120mm in length with their tail adding between 75-110mm to their overall length. They have large ears, protruding eyes, and a long tail and weigh between 14-45g. Yellow Necked Field mice pose a threat mostly in rural areas, if a Yellow Necked Field mouse enters your property they can be a fire risk as they are known to chew through electrical wiring. Their preferred habitat is broad leafed woodland areas such as hedges, buildings, and rural gardens, and they are known to consume, and spoil stored foods. They are not known to survive much longer than 12 months.
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Prevention
As with any pest prevention is always better than a cure. As we have demonstrated mice are active all year round and have an incredible ability to continuously procreate so protecting your property in the early stages is key to preventing an out of control infestation. Mice also invade a whole host of different properties and locations on the hunt for shelter and food, so it is definitely worthwhile considering some of the below to effectively protect and prevent your home or business from falling victim to an infestation:
- Proofing your property- checking your property for any potential entry points and sealing these up with cement. Focus on low level areas and then make your way up your property to vents, eaves etc. Pay careful attention to areas around pipes, windows, and basement areas.
- Remove any potential nesting sites by keeping your garden clean and tidy and cutting back any overgrown areas/ areas that would be easy for mice to hide in (piles of wood etc).
- Store food in airtight containers, and clear/remove any food spillages as soon as they occur.
- Cover any household waste so mice cannot gain access- places such as dustbins and compost heaps are key!
- Fit bristle strips to the bottoms of your doors to prevent entry.
