Happy New Year, friends! We hope this post finds you healthy and of course pest-free. Last year was a crazy one and while we don’t know for certain what to expect in the days and months to come, what the local pest control pros here at Arrow know is that mice are on the move and making their way into garages and basements in Essex, Hudson, and Morris counties as well as counties throughout New Jersey.
Unfortunately, mice choose to nest in garages and basements because they’re fairly easy to access and provide the warmth and shelter they need to survive winter in the Garden State. Garage doors not properly sealed and cracks in the foundation are two easy methods of entry these rodents use to infiltrate garages and basements. Once inside, they’ll gather nesting material from cardboard boxes, papers, debris, and other materials that collect in these storage areas. They’ll stick around if the conditions are warm and if they can find suitable hiding places (i.e. among the clutter that most garages and/or basements hold). What’s more, garages and basements either contain food or allow mice to nest in close proximity to food. Birdseed and pet food stored in the garage are a score for hungry mice and these foraging pests aren’t shy about sneaking into kitchens during the nocturnal hours.
Though mice are curious critters, they often avoid detection because they are mainly active at night. If you’re concerned that your garage, basement, or home have been infested by mice but you’re not sure, look for these signs of a mouse problem:
Mouse Pathways
Mice have a tendency to keep to the sides of rooms and travel along walls from their nesting sites to their food source(s). They use these pathways (also known as runways) repeatedly so over time, you may see rub marks, prints, and droppings. In garages and basements in particular, it may be easy to see these pathways as dust, dirt and other debris are more likely to accumulate in the corners and along the edges of the rooms.
Mouse Droppings
One of the easiest ways to know for sure if mice are present is the identification of their droppings and feces. Mouse poop looks similar to grains of rice, in both shape and size (approximately ¼ of an inch in length). And like rice, mouse feces have pointed ends. Along with the droppings, you’ll probably find patches of urine. Depending on the size of the infestation and your nose sensitivity level, you may notice that mouse pee gives off an ammonia-like smell.
Gnaw Marks
Mice are equipped with incisors that never stop growing. In order to keep them at a manageable level, mice must constantly chew. That is why it is common to find gnaw marks on plastic containers, cardboard boxes, and other materials and even furniture stored in garages and basements. Drywall and insulation are also frequently chewed by these destructive pests.
Scratching & Strange Noises
Confirming a mouse infestation may include the use of all your senses. While eyes are used to see live mice, their droppings, damage they cause, and paths they travel, you should employ your ears in the uncovering of mice inside. As they are critters that steal around in the night, it is very common to hear scratching and other strange noises coming from the ceiling or the walls. Walls and ceiling voids sometimes act as superhighways for mice as they forage for food. They’ll also build their nests behind and above the drywall and the noises that stem from that activity may rouse you from your rest.
Foul Odor
A mouse infestation may lead to foul odors whose origins cannot be identified or located. There are a couple of explanations for the odiferous offense to your nostrils. One, there could be dead mice collecting in your walls or other areas not visible giving off a horrible stench. Two, mice produce a lot of waste. In a situation where the infestation is larger, there will likely be a distinctive musky smell and/or ammonia-like smell.
Pets Are Acting Strange
Many mouse infestations have first been identified by the four-legged members of families. That’s because cats and dogs have a much better sense of smell and are likely to pick up on odors that we cannot. If your pet has started paying extra close attention to one area, don’t be surprised if you find other signs of mice nearby.
While we’ve been focusing on mice in this blog post, we should mention another common type of rodent in New Jersey and that would be the rat. While very similar in appearance and M.O., there are noticeable differences between the two which may help you determine if the rodents in your garage or basement are in fact mice or if they are nasty rats.
Click here to read one of our blog posts about the differences between mice and rats.
In order to keep mice out of your garage, basement, or other areas of your home, you must make sure every gap, hole, and crack is sealed, patched, or fixed. Let’s start this discussion by focusing on the garage door. Can you see daylight coming through the bottom? If yes, mice can certainly slip under. Try installing weather stripping that mice teeth cannot penetrate. You may also add a garage door threshold or seal to prevent entry. Check your local hardware store for these products.
Finally, we highly encourage homeowners to organize, clean, and sanitize their garages and basements as well as other storage areas, kitchens, and really their entire homes. It may seem like a lot of work but it’s worth it. Trust us!
If it’s too late and you have already found live mice or evidence of them in your home, contact Arrow Pest Control for help right away! Providing expert rodent control in Chatham, Millstone, and Maplewood as well as communities throughout our multi-county service area, the Arrow team has the tools, knowledge and experience to exterminate mice that have infested your garage, basement, or the rest of your house. Our thorough process starts with an intense inspection to determine if mice are present, the severity of the infestation, how they’re getting in, and what’s attracting them.
Once we’ve assessed the situation, we’ll develop and implement a plan of action that includes the use of rodent exclusion tactics, installation of traps and other population control measures, rodent monitoring, and more!
This program includes everything from the Home Protection Program - PLUS carpenter ant control and our termite monitoring advantage. Arrow will install a passive subterranean termite monitoring system at critical or conducive areas along the exterior perimeter foundation of your home. This system will include up to 4 in-ground subterranean termite monitoring stations. These stations will be serviced and inspected as part of your routine service.
Should the monitors indicate termite activity or termites occur within the home, Arrow will provide you with a termite treatment proposal at a 50% discounted rate, and you will be upgraded to Arrow Premier at the current prevailing rate.
Pests targeted with Arrow’s Home Protection Program Plus includes all the pests included in the Home Protection Program PLUS carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, and acrobat ants.
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