HOW TO GET RID OF MICE? EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR MOUSE CONTROL IN THE HOUSE AND IN OTHER ROOMS
There are more than 30 species of mice. The most common include the house mouse, the field mouse, the white-footed mouse and the deer mouse. The house mouse, which is the most common in Germany, is one of the so-called invasive species, which are characterized by a large ability to spread, which poses a threat to the ecosystem and contributes to the weakening of biodiversity. House mice are classified by people as pests because they are largely responsible for contaminating food in food stores or household pantries/cellars. For this reason, a variety of defense methods have been developed. As with any type of pest, it is worth knowing more about the enemy.
MOUSE IN THE WILD
The house mouse or mouse is characterized by strong synanthropy. What does this mean? This means that it is found wherever there are people. The presence of mice has even been confirmed in research stations in Antarctica.
HOW LONG DOES A MOUSE LIVE?
House mice have many natural enemies that are higher up the food chain. These include cats, weasels, foxes, birds and snakes. The lifespan of mice in the wild is therefore usually 5-6 months. In the laboratory or as pets, they can live up to 2 years.
HOW FAST DOES A MOUSE REPRODUCTIVE? HOW MANY YOUNG DOES IT HAVE?
A female house mouse reaches reproductive age at just two months of age. After that, she is able to give birth to up to a dozen mice every three weeks or so. This means that she can give birth to more than 100 young in a year! So if you spot a mouse in your home, you can be sure that it won't stop at just one.
WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS ARE MICE?
Mice are nocturnal and usually go out to forage after dark. They are not picky and are omnivorous, but they particularly like fruits and plant seeds. If they find meat or dairy products, they will eat them too. Mice do not even stop at their own feces, taking in nutrients produced by the bacteria living in their gut. They are very sensitive animals that can feel compassion for one another. They use their snouts to express their mood through facial expressions.
Mice do not have good eyesight, but they do have good hearing and a good sense of smell. They use their whiskers to sense temperature changes and the texture of the surface they are walking on. They live in elaborate burrows with long entrances and many escape routes. These are kept clean - they have separate areas for storing food, sleeping and going to the toilet. House mice have numerous skills that allow them to invade houses and living spaces.
AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR MICE CONTROL? THIS IS HOW MICE WORK!
House mice are very curious animals that search for new food sources every day. Your house can also become a potential target, so you should make sure from the outset that the rodents cannot enter your home. This primarily involves sealing openings, e.g. with silicone. As an additional precautionary measure that is easy to implement, you should store all food in the pantry or basement in tightly closed containers.
Nobody likes to be cold, not even mice. That's why they look for a warm shelter more frequently between October and February. You can write in your calendar that you have to check every year before the onset of autumn whether your house is protected against mice.
Mice are voracious and eat 15-20 times a day. They usually build their nest close to a food source (up to 8 m away) so that they can easily reach it. Once it gets dark, they then wander between the different feeding places, taking in only 0.15 g of food at a time. To track a mouse, you have to see where it leaves food traces (e.g. a certain smell) and use this to deduce where its burrow is located.
A mouse's teeth grow throughout its life and lead to a strong biting and chewing instinct. The mouse is always nibbling on things to get its growing teeth to a comfortable size. Unfortunately, even electrical wiring in the house is not safe from this instinct, which in the worst case can lead to a fire. Make sure that all electrical systems are properly protected and if you suspect a mouse is nearby, do not be afraid to use electromagnetic mouse repellents.
HOW CAN I KEEP MICE OUT OF MY HOUSE?
Do mice spread disease? Of course they do! These rodents can transmit up to 200 different pathogens and parasites. They do this by contaminating surfaces and food with their droppings - they defecate 40 to 100 times a day. Therefore, do not underestimate the danger posed by mice in your home.
HOW DO I GET MICE OUT OF MY APARTMENT?
There are classic and modern mouse control methods that are more or less invasive.
MOUSE TRAPS AND LIVE TRAPS
The most well-known control method is the traditional mouse trap. This is increasingly being replaced by a more animal-friendly live trap, which does not harm the animal. If you would like to learn more about using mouse traps, we have written a separate blog post in which we describe in detail how to catch a mouse and get rid of a rat.
MOUSE REPELLENT
In addition to the live trap, there is another humane method of mouse control, namely devices that work with ultrasonic waves that are imperceptible to humans but disturb rodents. Ultrasonic sounds at the right frequencies are unbearable for animals with very sensitive hearing, such as mice. It is like living with a roommate who constantly listens to loud heavy metal, while we prefer a quiet lifestyle. The ultrasonic deterrent scares the mice away and forces them to leave the room in which such a device is used. Ultrasonic mouse control is most effective when the ultrasonic deterrent has a sophisticated, automated system for changing the frequencies. This prevents the rodents from getting used to the sounds. The effectiveness of mouse control often fails because of humans. Open food and a lack of order provide the pests with perfect hiding places and access to food. Before you decide on a deterrent method, make sure that there are no leftover food lying around.
MOUSE POISON
The last method you may want to resort to is mouse poison (eg in the form of paste, pellets or poisoned grain). This is placed in bait boxes that protect the poison from people, pets, rain and moisture. An effective mouse poison is based on anticoagulant substances. The active ingredients most commonly used in rodenticides are difenacoum, bromadiolone and brodifacoum. The blue mouse poison with brodifacoum is the most effective and efficient (only a small amount is needed). For more information about mouse poisons and their use, see our blog: How to choose the best rat poison?
