There’s nothing worse than finding that your treasured photo album stashed away in your attic has been chewed on by mice, destroying priceless memories that can’t be remade. As you walk around your basement or attic, you notice that a whole bunch of your boxes have been gnawed on, leaving holes for mice to squeeze in and out of. There are droppings everywhere, and a musty odor has permeated throughout the whole room.
Even worse, as you dig through your boxes, you notice they’ve chewed on much more than your photographs. Important papers are shredded, holiday wires are chewed in half, and they’ve stained old clothing and couch cushions.
Signs Of Mice In Your Salt Lake City Home
When mice have invaded your Salt Lake City home, you will know. Below is a list of signs they are setting up shop in your home:
- Droppings: Before you see anything else, you are likely to see these pepper-like feces scattered about. They are most likely to be around the places where they are nesting, so look near boxes and other cluttered areas that offer shelter. Droppings will also indicate to you where they are moving about.
- Chewed material items: Another strong indication mice are living in your Salt Lake City home is the presence of chewed and gnawed material items. Mice have teeth that never stop growing, so chewing on things is a must — they will chew through your furniture, boxes, papers, photos, and virtually anything they can bite through.
- Musky odor: Mice leave behind a musky, distinct odor. This will permeate the room(s) they have infested.
- Tracks: If there is enough dust where they are, mice will leave behind tracks. These footprints will be in parallel lines, and sometimes their tails will leave drag marks.
Can Mice In Your Salt Lake City House Make You Sick?
While mice are definitely capable of causing a lot of material damage to your goods and your Salt Lake City home, it is important to understand that mice are also capable of spreading very dangerous (and potentially deadly) illnesses to you and your family:
- Hantavirus: This virus can cause fever, chills, aches, and other pains. If left untreated and allowed to worsen, it can progress to kidney failure. Hantavirus can be spread through mouse feces and urine. These turn to dust over time and can be inhaled, so even if you do not have physical contact with it, you can still contract hantavirus.
- Salmonellosis: This is an intense gastrointestinal illness, causing severe cramping and distress. Mice spread this to humans by being in the same areas you and your family eat and prepare your food.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCVM): This is a viral infection that can cause serious neurological damage to humans. You and your family can be exposed to this virus through exposure to mouse droppings, urine, saliva, and other nesting materials.
Natural Mouse Prevention Tips For Salt Lake City Homes
There are some natural ways you can try to prevent mice from getting into your home, such as:
- Sealing up entry points: Go around your house and seal up any potential entry points, no matter how small the hole is.
- Cleaning up clutter: Organizing your basement and attic so that there is less clutter will make that space less appealing to mice, discouraging them from wanting to build their nests there.
The Safest Way To Get Rid Of Mice In Your Salt Lake City Home
Whether you already have a mouse infestation or not in your Salt Lake City home, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is contact us at Pest Pro Pest Control. We train our technicians to expertly handle mouse infestations here in Salt Lake City, arming them with the rodent control skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively exterminate mice.
We know how time-consuming owning a home is. Let us handle the rodents for you today!