Mice are highly adaptable creatures that live all around the world. In Canada, the most common type of mouse is the house mouse. These small rodents can be found in almost any area that people have settled, and can cause a tremendous amount of damage to property and businesses.

While mice in the wild prefer to live in forested areas and fields with tall grasses, they can also be found in large numbers in densely populated areas like cities. They tend to live in close proximity to humans, where they enjoy shelter, abundant food sources and relative safety from natural predators.

Mice frequently invade homes and commercial buildings and set up nests in protected areas like wall voids, attics, cupboards and garages. Reason why mice control services are popular to help eradicate the infestation.

The average house mouse can live anywhere from 9 to 12 months, but they rarely live out their full lifespan in the wild.

Newborn house mice in Toronto and area reach maturity after about a month or so, and females can breed extremely quickly. While living indoors, they can give birth up to 12 times per year, producing litters of up to 6 mice each time.

In the wild, mouse populations are normally curbed by natural predators such as hawks, snakes, and coyotes. In urban areas where such predators are uncommon, mice populations can skyrocket. If left unchecked without professional mice control, a mouse infestation can get out of control in a very short period of time.

Mice seek out warm areas to live in during the colder months. When the temperature drops below 15C, mice in urban areas like Toronto will start exploring buildings for suitable nesting spots.

Mice are ravenous creatures, requiring an almost constant supply of food. They can feed on a wide range of things and eat up to 20 times a day. Mice can’t live for more than a few days without eating.

They prefer to feed on grains and starches, including rice, cereals, crackers, and bread crumbs. Peanut butter is also thought to be a favorite food of the house mouse.

Contrary to popular belief, mice aren’t particularly fond of cheese – although they will eat pretty much anything that is available to them.

Mice can gain access to buildings through the smallest of holes, cracks and openings around doors and windows. The average mouse can fit through a hole about the size of a pencil eraser.

Ensure that all potential entry points into your home are sealed by repairing cracks, windows, doors and moldings.

Some advice from mice extermination experts is to keep your space clean and free of crumbs, spills, and loose food. Store all garbage in tightly sealed containers, clean pet dishes regularly and remove things like bird feeders from your property.

Reduce moisture in your home by fixing leaky plumbing and HVAC units. Dry up outdoor sources of standing water. Keep surrounding vegetation properly trimmed.

Mice are nocturnal, which means you probably won’t see any running around during the day unless the infestation is large. You will most likely notice signs of mice, however. These include small brown rod-shaped droppings, gnaw marks or sounds, and grease marks or tracks throughout your home.

While mice aren’t dangerous themselves, they can contaminate the surfaces they interact with by leaving behind harmful microorganisms like salmonella bacteria. They can also cause significant damage to electrical wires, decimate stores of food, and even cause structural damage to buildings.

Sealing cracks and crevices temporarily with steel wool will help prevent them from gaining entry into your space until you can make proper repairs.

If you notice mice or signs of mice in your home, first try and determine the extent of the infestation. If it’s only a single mouse or a few individuals, a bunch of well-placed wood snap traps baited with peanut butter should do the trick. Place them in pairs perpendicular to walls that you suspect the mouse travels along.

If you find a large amount of droppings, notice a urine-like smell in your space, or see several individuals especially during the day, you might have a large infestation on your hands.

If this is the case, it’s best to call a mice control professional right away. Mice breed extremely quickly and can be difficult to eliminate completely once their numbers have gotten out of control. Call us and we’ll take steps to properly remove the mice from your property safely and effectively.