House Mice

Understanding the House Mouse Threat

As the weather cools down in Missouri, the common House Mouse (Mus musculus) actively seeks warm shelter and reliable food sources. Your home is their perfect winter sanctuary. Once inside, they multiply at an alarming rate.

How Mice Get Inside

A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime. Common entry points include gaps around plumbing and HVAC pipes, damaged crawlspace vents, and deteriorated weather stripping beneath garage doors.

Signs of a Mouse Infestation

• Droppings: Finding small, dark, rod-shaped droppings inside pantry cabinets or along baseboards is usually the first sign.
• Gnaw Marks: Mice constantly chew to file down their growing teeth. Look for gnawed food packaging, drywall, or even electrical wires (which poses a serious fire hazard).
• Scratching Noises: Hearing scurrying or scratching sounds in your ceilings or walls, particularly at night.

Health Risks

Beyond property damage, mice carry dangerous pathogens. Their urine, droppings, and nesting materials can spread diseases like Salmonella and Hantavirus, while simultaneously triggering severe allergic reactions and asthma in children.