House mouse – - It will be about 5.5″ to 7.5″ long, that includes the 3″ to 4″ tail. Gray or light brown in color. Large ears and small black eyes. Excellent climbers and very good at reproduction. In a single year, one female mouse may have 5 to 10 litters of usually 5-6 young EACH. They mature in 6-10 weeks. You do the math!!!!!

If, mice are in the house, you will see signs around the house that show you where they are traveling. Droppings are the size of a piece of uncooked rice. Some are straight, others may be curved. The most common areas to look are in the kitchen drawers. The compartment under the oven, behind the refrigerator, garage, basement and most of all the attic. They love to nest in the insulation. Items may show signs of being chewed. That could be anything from food to material. Noises can also be heard from time to time in a wall or an attic, inside cabinets, anytime, anywhere.

Ok end of biology class, now what you need to know.  Mice are very smart. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they are dumb. They mostly move at night, but can be seen in the day. They look for easy ways to get in. Services, mainly gas, water, cable, A/C line, electric and any other things that come in from the outside. The skull of a mouse is the hardest part of the body, if it fits, they are in. You don’t go for the idea of keeping them out 100%. You’re just trying to make it hard so that they go somewhere else.

Best way to seal the hole or gap is to stuff it with coarse steel wool. Then caulk or foam over it so it doesn’t rust away.

Baits are the best option to solve the problem, but if pets and/or children are present then I would say to you call a professional. The risk is high that you may not use the material properly. A mistake using this product can have deadly results.

Give us a call here at Maple Lane and we’ll talk about the best option for you.

• Remove all sheets, pillows and bedding material. Seal them in a plastic bag until they can be cleaned, to prevent the infestation from spreading.
• Wash sheets, pillows and bedding in soap and hot water. Items that cannot be washed, such as bedspreads and draperies, should be placed in a dryer on high for 1 hour (only high heat eliminates all stages). This will also be necessary for clothing in the closet, under the bed and in the dressers, in the room they were discovered in.
• Everything that can be laundered should be laundered before the service and sealed in plastic bags. This would include stuffed animals and other soft articles.
• Place the clean items in new plastic bags and sealed shut. DO NOT bring bags of clean laundry into the home until after the service is performed.
• Clean all floors of loose items such as toys, trash, change, shoes, etc., including floors of closets and interior storage. Place all items in plastic bags for cleaning or disposal.
• DO NOT MOVE items to another room or home while getting ready for the service. You may spread the bedbugs to other areas or reintroduce newly treated home later when you retrieve your belongings.
• Ensure all items are removed from dresser tops, nightstands, bookshelves, coffee tables, etc.
• All furniture, tables, CD stands, computer equipment will be turned over during treatment.
• Aquariums: disconnect the air pump and cover the top of the tank with a plastic bag or a towel/sheet.
• Birds, cats, dogs and any other pets must be completely removed from the home.
• Before vacuuming, take a nylon sock and tie a knot in the end and place it between a hose connection (where two pieces of pipe connect). This will capture bed bugs and eggs.
• Vacuum all floors, furniture, inside closets, dressers, bed frames, mattress and box spring, paying close attention to the edges and baseboards
• Vacuum the interior of your car. They can have the bed bugs too!!!
• Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and throw it out IMMEDIATELY!!!!
• Purchase a quality mattress and box spring cover to protect them. DO NOT buy a plastic mattress cover as they rip easy when you move the mattress and then your protection is gone and you end up buying another one.