How bad could one little mouse be? Worse than you probably think. Mice are not commensal as some refer to them. The idea of commensalism is that one organism lives off another without providing benefits or causing harm. While it is true that mice don't provide benefits to humans, they are not harmless critters. There are a few ways mice are surprisingly harmful. Today, we'll look at general facts about mice that allow them to cause harm. If you're currently dealing with a mouse infestation and you need immediate assistance with rodent pest control in the Sacramento Region, jump to our contact page for service. You don't have to read an article about mouse control to solve a mouse problem. If you're curious about mice and the secret things they do in your home, read on and prepare to be stunned.

If I See One Mouse In My Home Does That Mean There Are More?

We asked, "How bad could one little mouse be?" There is a good chance you don't have only one little mouse. If you see one mouse, it is likely that there are more mice where that one came from. Here are a few facts you should know.

  • Seeing a mouse during the day is a warning sign that you have a large population of mice and that some mice feel the need to search for food during the day to outcompete the competition. Mice are typically nocturnal animals.
  • Seeing a mouse at night isn't good or bad. It is just an indication that you have a mouse problem.
  • Mice live in groups. There are as many as a dozen mice in a group.
  • You can have several groups of mice in your home. Mice usually get along with each other. Rats and mice don't get along and you'll find one or the other living in your home, never both. 
  • Mice reproduce quickly. A mouse can have a litter in as little as twenty days with an average of six mice in each litter. The math is complicated because in a litter of six, some of the mice are female. All of the female mice have the ability to create a litter every twenty days. Do you see how you could quickly be overrun with mice? All mice need is a food source. If they find food in your home, you're going to have lots of mice.

There is a chance that you could have only one mouse. It is rare but possible. If you've seen a mouse and you want to know if you have more than one, you'll have to search for warning signs and evaluate the evidence you find. For example, lots of mouse droppings mean you have lots of mice.

house mouse in home kitchen

Can Mice In The Sacramento Region Make You Sick If You Don't Touch Them?

Mice impact your health in many ways that are likely to surprise you—and in none of these ways is it necessary for you to touch a mouse. In fact, it is hard to touch a mouse! They don't want you to touch them and they're impressively adept at getting away. If you do manage to corral a mouse and grab it, you can expect it to harm you when you touch it. That little mouse will be scared out of its mind, and a scared mouse will bite you. But almost all of the time, mice will cause harm without touching you.  

  • Contaminated foods. When mice get into your stored foods, they may contaminate them. Mice crawl in trash bins, sewers, and other dirty places. A mouse that has been exposed to harmful bacteria will present a health risk in your home.  
  • Contaminated surfaces. When a mouse moves over a surface, it can leave invisible organisms behind. If a food-preparation surface is contaminated, it can contaminate your food as you prepare meals.
  • Droppings. Mice leave their waste everywhere they explore and also where they sleep. The droppings of a rodent are generally a health concern because mice often eat rotting things or the feces of other animals in order to survive.
  • Nests. A mouse nest has the potential to present many health risks. Some mice spread hantavirus, which can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. A nest will have feces and urine contaminants. There may be fleas or ticks.
  • Fleas and ticks. You won't just find these parasites in the nests of mice. A mouse can spread these pests around your home. It is bad when they do because fleas and ticks can contract diseases from rodents and other animals before spreading them to humans.  
  • A house fire. The worst result of having mice in your home is a house fire. Mice are known to chew on wires. If a live wire is severed, it can cause a spark. A house fire can lead to a significant loss of property, and it presents a serious threat to the safety of everyone in your home. 

One little mouse can be pretty bad. Groups of mice are even worse. When you find evidence of mice in your home, it is wise to take effective steps to remove them and keep mice out of your house. If you're like most, you may turn to traps as a solution. You should know that they are only a partial solution. Let's look at why this is the case. 

Why Aren't Mouse Traps Enough?

If you've done your research, you know that professionals use traps to catch mice. But it isn't as simple as putting down a few traps, removing the mice, and calling it a day. Catching mice isn't easy. Mice have abilities and behavior patterns that help them avoid traps. Professionals use specialized knowledge and experience to outsmart mice and keep them from evading traps. On top of this, traps are only a partial solution. For example, catching mice will not prevent mice from getting into your home. The entry points that mice are using to get inside must be sealed. Catching mice only addresses the symptom, not the source of the problem. Professionals know this and use a multi-pronged control strategy to deal with mice.

When homeowners attempt to trap mice, they have a wide range of results. They may catch a mouse or two or ten. If you catch mice with your traps, great. But not catching mice isn't the worse outcome of mouse control. If you catch a few mice and then don't see or hear mice anymore, you may think that all the mice are gone, when they aren't. Mice can live in your home without making any noises you can detect. If you think they're gone and they aren't, it will allow them to continue to impact your health and present a fire hazard while staying completely hidden in your home.

The best solution for a mouse problem is to have a licensed professional apply a management strategy to locate and eliminate mice in your home and take steps to prevent mice from getting inside. We strongly recommend choosing a pest control provider that offers rodent-proofing and exclusion services. If you're in the Sacramento Region, reach out to HomeShield Pest Control for assistance with rodent control. We offer rodent-proofing, attic cleaning services, and other services which are not offered by most pest control service providers. Our goal is always to provide comprehensive and effective pest control for our customers.   

How Do I Get Rid Of Mice In My Home For Good?

There is no way to prevent mice from ever getting into your home, but you have the best chance of keeping them out if you get ongoing pest control service for the exterior of your home. Routine visits from knowledgeable and experienced technicians will give you layers of protection against all of the common pests we have in our area, and ongoing monitoring and management of rodent pressures. For assistance with this, contact HomeShield Pest Control. We offer customized service plans to meet the specific needs of our customers. One size does not fit all. If rodents are a concern for you, we'll add the appropriate services to prevent infestation. We may recommend that tamper-resistant rodent traps be installed around your home or we may suggest the installation of pest control insulation. Pest control insulation? Yup! When you add a layer of this blown insulation on top of your current insulation, mice, rats, and squirrels will not want to live in your attic. The insulation we install has borates that upset the stomach of rodents. These borates are mild to humans but irritating to rodents, especially when they go looking to collect insulation in your attic to add materials to their nests.

One little mouse can be an indicator of a big problem. Reach out to HomeShield Pest Control for effective rodent control in the Sacramento Region. We offer industry-leading solutions and comprehensive services so you get a complete solution for your pest control needs. Schedule a service visit today or drop us a line with any questions you may have. We're here to help.