Once they enter a home, mice can spread disease, contaminate food, and trigger allergies. Because their survival depends on their ability to hide, the presence of mice can often go undetected. Luckily, mice infestation signs are easy to spot if you know what to watch for in different areas of your home. Specifically, their urine and feces can be found throughout your attic insulation, highlighting the importance of having it removed, properly air-sealed, sanitized, and then replaced with new insulation to mitigate any health risks for you and your family.
Identifying a Mice Infestation in Your Home
For homeowners who are wondering how to identify a mice infestation, the first step is to become a careful observer of what is happening inside your home. Some of the most common signs of a mice infestation include:
- Strange Noises: Noises coming from the attic at night is a common sign of a mice infestation. Mice are active at night, and dark crevices in insulation, walls, and the attic provide the perfect hiding spots for these creatures.
- Gnawing Marks: Mice will chew through virtually any type of material, from plastic to piping, which can cause serious damage. House mice as well as Norway rats are also known to chew through wire, which can present the risk of fire.
- Nesting: Mouse nests are typically found in secluded areas of the home and are made from materials like insulation, fabrics, and newspaper.
- Droppings: Mouse droppings are small, dark, and the size of a grain of rice. They are often left in in your attic or other parts of your home like basement box sills, crawl spaces, or where food is stored, such as cabinets or pantries.
- Track and Rub Marks: Rates and mice have oily fur that can leave marks along walls and floorboards as they move around the house. Track and rub marks leave a trail from the mouse’s nest to their source of food, which means finding the marks can often help you identify where the mice are hiding.
- Rodent Sightings: If you see one mouse, you can almost certainly expect to find many more. A female mouse can give birth to up to 35 babies per year. Mice are also very good at staying hidden, so if you spot a single mouse, it is very likely that many more are present, and there is a heavy infestation.
- Staining on the ceilings: The pile of dirt in the attic could be a nest for birds or rodents that found a home in your attic. Excrement and urine from these pests can stain the ceiling below the nest.
Health and Safety Concerns of a Mice Infestation
A mice infestation can pose several health and safety concerns:
- Disease Transmission: Mice can carry and transmit various diseases to humans through their urine, feces, and saliva. Some common diseases transmitted by mice include Hantavirus, Salmonellosis, and Leptospirosis.
- Allergens: Mice shed dander, fur, and urine, which can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. Allergens from mice can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma.
- Contamination of Food: Mice can gnaw through food packaging, contaminating it with their urine, feces, and hair. Consuming contaminated food can lead to food poisoning and other illnesses.
- Property Damage: Mice have strong teeth that enable them to chew through wood, plastic, and electrical wiring. Gnawing on electrical wiring can also create fire hazards and damage to electronic appliances.
- Structural Damage: Mice can cause structural damage to buildings by burrowing through walls, insulation, and ceilings. Damage from mice can weaken the structural integrity of the building and lead to costly repairs.
- Pest Infestations: Mice infestations can attract other pests, such as fleas and ticks, which can further exacerbate health concerns and lead to additional pest infestations.
- Odor Issues: The presence of mice can lead to foul odors caused by their urine, feces, and decaying bodies. Odors from mice can be difficult to eliminate and can affect indoor air quality.
- Stress and Anxiety: Dealing with a mice infestation can cause stress and anxiety for occupants of the affected property, impacting their mental health and well-being.
It is crucial for homeowners to figure out how to deal with mice and address a mice infestation promptly to mitigate an array of health and safety concerns.
Effective Prevention Strategies
Proper home maintenance can go a long way toward mice prevention. Some of the most effective strategies to prevent an infestation before it starts include:
- Proper Air Sealing at Entry Points: Inspect the home for any gaps or cracks in walls, floors, doors, and windows, and seal them with caulk or steel wool. Mice can squeeze through very small openings, so be sure to pay attention to even the tiniest gaps.
- Keep Food Secure: Store food in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or plastic. Avoid leaving food out overnight and clean up spills and crumbs promptly.
- Dispose of Trash Properly: Use sealed bins for trash storage, and make sure they are emptied regularly. Keep outdoor trash bins tightly closed to prevent mice from accessing them.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Keep your home clean and clutter-free, as mice are attracted to areas with easy access to food and nesting materials. Regularly vacuum floors, wipe down surfaces, and clean up spills.
Professional Solutions from Wisconsin Home Improvement
Once a mice infestation is present, mouse traps and repellents can provide a short-term solution, but they will not keep mice out of a home permanently.
The best way to prevent a mice infestation is to solve the problem at its source and seal off their entry points by taking some preventive steps:
- Remove infested insulation
- Disinfect the area
- Close entry points by air sealing
- Install new spray foam insulation
- Blown-in cellulose is treated with boric acid, which deters mice and insects
- Spray Foam box sills and properly seal crawl spaces
The experts at Wisconsin Home Improvement can help homeowners repair the damage from a mice infestation and help prevent future issues. Use our online form to reach out to our team or call today to schedule a consultation.
