We all know how troublesome mice can be when they make their way into our home. Other rodents, such as rats, are not any good, but we are talking about the house mice. They are slightly less cautious than rats and can easily be trapped. But before we move on to finding out the solutions for mice, let us learn a little about mice and why they are a nuisance in Guelph or any other area, for that matter.
What are Rodents?
Rodents are considered the largest group of mammals in the animal kingdom. They comprise about 40% of the entire mammal species. Guelph’s common rodents are cotton rats, deer mice, house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. All of these rodents may look very similar and have many resemblances in appearance or nature, but there are some key differences between all of them. That is why scientists have classified each of them as a separate Rodentia class.
The word ‘rodent’ comes from the Latin word ‘rodere’, which is a verb and literally means ‘to gnaw.’ Now that makes some sense why mice are always after all the little things that can be gnawed. Rodents come under the Rodentia order of mammals, and their most significant characterization is their incisors. These are a single pair of incisors that grow continuously. In short, there is no age of retirement for mice’s teeth. And this is what makes them so troublesome. Since they are always worried about downsizing or making their incisors less painful for themselves, they have to gnaw, chew, shred, or pierce whatever they find.
How can mice, directly and indirectly, cause diseases?
The presence of mice in your home is not a good sign. When more than one mouse is there, it means they have already started to plan their family. We know that mice always carry many dangerous diseases. Some of these diseases are transmitted directly by these rodents, such as Hantavirus, Lassa fever, Rat-bite fever, Salmonellosis, and even Leptospirosis. Then there are some diseases that we can catch indirectly that are transmitted through mice’s feces and urine. There are several ways through which these indirect diseases can be transmitted. One way is that their waste dries up and becomes dust, becoming a part of the air that we inhale. Then the houseflies and other tiny flying bugs can also become a carrier for such zoonotic diseases. This means that not only mice are a nuisance but also can cause you hazardous health problems.
Conclusion
No matter what type of mice you spot in your house, never take their presence lightly. Although you can try several DIY techniques to control or exterminate mice in your home, professional pest control is always the best option. Some precautions that everyone should always follow whether there is mice infestation or not. Those precautions include keeping your kitchen clean and tidy at all times. Leaving food and its leftovers in the kitchen or the dining table means an invitation to all different pests species. Rodents are especially attracted to sweet food items such as peanut butter, gums, candies, and cheese. These items should be highly taken care of if one wants to avoid all the inconvenience and trouble caused by these rodents. If you want to know more about rodent and mice extermination in Guelph, get in touch with the experts at Pesticon.