Downs Pest Control Mouse Treatments

Many people ask us what we do differently to treat for mice that what they can do. Most homeowners go to the store and buy over-the-counter products like snap traps, sticky traps, and mouse poison. Although we use a lot of the same products that homeowners use or have access to, what we do is a little different that what homeowners usually do.

What our service provides is mainly expertise and access to great professional mouse products that work. We deal with mice all the time, we know how they eat, how the reproduce, how they build nests, and most importantly how to catch them. Our mouse service also allows us to use a wide variety of products that may be difficult for homeowners to get or may be very expensive. Most our rodent services include return visits, visits where we check your traps and remove any mice that have been caught. We also will return at your convenience and make the entire mouse elimination process very easy for you.

For more information about our mouse and rodent services that we offer in Des Moines and to central Iowa visit our mice treatments page or visit our homepage for more information. Mice are very common in Iowa and can cause major problems to your home and your health if not treated quickly.

Also you can contact us at 515-309-2089! Thank you and have great day!

Mice!

Mice

Mice are the most common rodent found in homes, hotels, hospitals, schools, and restaurants. Mice are very resourceful and adaptable to any environment. Because of this adaptability mice are able to live almost anywhere. There are two types of mice that are commonly found in Iowa, the house mice and our native deer mice. Deer mice are slightly larger than house mice, and weigh about ½ to one ounce.

Mice may be smaller than a tennis ball, but the damage they can cause is insurmountable. Mice can cause over $2 billion in damage worldwide every year. They can contaminate food and water and weaken structures with their gnawing.

Mice have very bad eyesight so their other senses are very strong. Mice are also very nimble; they can fit through small holes that are only ¼ inch wide. An unknown attribute about mice is their ability to jump. Mice can jump over a foot in height, and mice can jump off a wall and use it as a springboard to jump up even higher. Mice can also run straight up a wall and scamper across small electrical wires easily.

DIET

Mice like to eat grains like cereal. They are herbivores, meaning they do not eat meat. They are very good scavengers and will eat any scraps that are left on the ground.  With their expert gnawing skills, they can easily gnaw their way through a cardboard box containing foods.

REPRODUCTION

Mice breed year round in the house, producing around 50 young ones every year. They produce around 6 young per litter, and between 8-10 litters every year. Newborn mice are hairless, pink and their eyes are usually closed. By the time mice are three weeks old they are covered in fur and making trips away from the nest by themselves. They can reach sexual maturity 4-5 weeks old.

A family of 5 mice in your home has the ability to reproduce to 25 within a couple of months and it can increase exponentially from there if it's not controlled properly and rapidly.

CONTROL

The three best ways to control mice is prevention, prevention, and some more prevention. If you don't allow your home to be suitable for mice, they will not come in.  Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent rodents.

• Seal all cracks and holes inside and outside of your home
• Block or fill the opening around water pipes or wires
• Use screens in air vents and other holes that may be too large to fill
• Make sure that the door’s bottom edge is flush to the floor
• Keep the food out to a minimum
• Keep pet food sealed in plastic containers

 

Types of Traps

There are usually three methods of pest control: traps, baits, and sprays. It usually takes a combined effort of all three of these to control the bugs. Today we are going to go over the first of the three--traps.

Traps are useful in observing bugs. Since most bugs and rodents are most active at night, a person or exterminator will not be able to see the pest. Traps are awesome because it allows us to see what type of pest is in your home or business. Each pest has a different method of treatment. The most important thing in pest control is using the right treatment.

When it comes to traps there are plenty to go around. There are many different types of traps that come in all different sizes. There are traps made specifically for ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, and pretty much all types of pests.

Even with all these different types of traps, they all boil down to two types of traps. Live traps and lethal traps.  Live traps are usually used on larger animals like squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and raccoons. Lethal traps are mainly known for use on mice and rats, but today live traps are becoming more popular and more humane way of controlling rodents.

Live Traps

Live traps used on insects are usually not as sophisticated as live traps used on bigger animals. Insect live traps are usually just sticky traps. Sticky traps are just a paper or cardboard product covered in a very sticky glue substance, catching the insects when they walk over them. This, however does not control the insect population.

Live traps used on larger animals usually have a trap door of some sort and a large room where the animal is to be trapped. This is humane and can relocate animals away from your home. This should be done by professionals on large animals like raccoons and opossums. These animals can be very dangerous and carry diseases. Also, if there are animals in your home, more than likely there will be little babies.

Lethal Traps

Lethal traps have been used since the Dark Ages, especially on rats. Lethal traps are usually only used on small mammals, like moles, mice, and rats. They kill the pest by a mechanical blow. although, this method is highly productive in controlling rodent problems if done correctly. This method does not always instantaneously kill the rodent.

The downfall to lethal traps is that if you catch the wrong animal, it will most likely kill it, and cannot be released like live traps.

When selecting a lethal trap, be sure to know what animal you are trying to capture. The size of the trap is very important. Select the right size for mice, rats, and moles. Use the smallest possible trap pertaining to the right rodent.

Now, the smartest thing to do when setting traps is setting enough and setting them in the right places. Putting down one or two traps will not ensure the capture of rodents, putting down ten or more (depending on size of infestation) has a better chance of doing so. Remember, it may take up to two to three weeks before the traps start to work. Just be patient and check the traps regularly.

Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50391, and 50392