How Mice Get Into Dallas Homes & How To Keep Them Out

With light to dark gray fur and cream-colored bellies, house mice can grow up to almost four inches long. While these pests may often get misidentified as rats, the house mouse’s round frame and large ears distinguish them from rats and other rodents.

Unfortunately, mice are one of the most common home-invading pests you can encounter in Dallas – and they’re also one of the most unwelcome. As harmless as they may look, house mice can bring big problems into your Dallas home.

Dangers Associated With House Mice

For one, house mice are carriers of several diseases, which they can spread to you and your family, such as:

• Hantavirus
• Tularemia
• Salmonellosis
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
• Leptospirosis

Besides the health risks, they can also cause significant property damage. House mice may use their tough teeth and powerful jaws to chew holes through walls, insulation, and even electrical wiring. Even a small house mouse infestation can yield hundreds of dollars in property damage.

Given how dangerous house mice can be for Dallas residents, it’s important to know how these rodents get in as well as how to get them out. Here’s what homeowners should know about what attracts mice to homes, how they get inside, what you can do to prevent them, and how to handle an active infestation.

What Attracts House Mice And How Do They Get Into Dallas Homes?

Mice, like many rodents, are usually attracted to your home for the same three reasons: warm shelter, food, and water. If you’ve got a lot of clutter around your home, you’re providing them with plenty of hiding spots – and any food or crumbs that have been left out can serve as a food source for mice.

Getting inside your home isn’t usually too difficult for mice either. These rodents have agile, flexible bodies, and they can squeeze through holes and gaps as tiny as the size of a pen. And, even if the hole isn’t big enough to fit through, many mice may use their teeth to chew through it until it’s a good enough fit. Materials like soft vinyl, wood, plastic, and even rubber are all materials that house mice can chew through.

How To Prevent House Mice In Dallas, TX

Just like certain things may attract mice to your home, there are also things you can do to keep them away, such as:

• Store your food properly: Leaving out food is sure to draw mice in, so you’ll want to make sure you properly store your food in airtight containers – and keep them in your fridge, cupboard, or freezer.
• Keep your trash cans closed: Even if you store food properly, mice aren’t shy about eating out of the trash.
• Make sure you’ve got your trash can sealed and empty indoor and outdoor cans on a regular basis.
• Block off potential entry-points: Use a rodent-proof material, like steel wool, to block off potential entry points in your home’s foundation. If you’ve got tears or rips in window and door screens, you’ll want to replace these too.
• Deal with clutter around your home: Mice may use clutter around your home to hide and stay out of sight, so it’s a good idea to do regular deep cleans.
• Clean up spills and crumbs: Even food scraps and spills can serve as a food source for mice. It’s always a good idea to clean up any spills and crumbs immediately.
• Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink: Dirty dishes can contain food particles that mice may feast on, so you shouldn’t leave dirty dishes lying in your sink overnight.
• Deal with moisture and drainage problems: To avoid giving rodents a water source, deal with any moisture issues, like leaky faucets or plumbing problems.

The Most Effective Way To Deal With House Mice In Dallas, TX

When they first discover mice in their home, some homeowners may rely on mouse traps to get rid of the infestation. The problem with this approach is that house mice are clever, and these devices almost never completely get rid of the problem.

Rather than wasting your money on ineffective traps or treatments, the most effective (and safest) way to deal with a house mouse infestation is by calling the professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite. If you think you’ve got mice in your Dallas home, don’t let these rodents put your family at risk – contact us at All-Safe Pest & Termite today for more information about how we can help.