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Controlling Mice
Mice are rodents that are very adept at getting
inside living spaces, making nests, and causing
damage to food, clothing, books, furniture,
and other property. They will chew through
electrical wiring, causing appliances to
break down that can result in fires. Mice
can also transmit disease when food is contaminated
with infected mice feces. Mice have a high
birth rate, producing six to ten litters
a year, so once they have invaded a dwelling,
they can be difficult to get rid of.
If you would like to control
mice, consider
the following:
- Toxic baits (also called rodenticides) are
often the easiest form of mice control. These
food-based mixtures contain seeds or grains
that have been treated with a substance that
kills the mice by causing them to die from
internal bleeding. Best results with this
type of control come from using the packages
in a number of locations. Bait should only
be placed in areas that are inaccessible
to children and pets, especially dogs.
- Using a trap to catch mice may be a better
alternative in households with
pets or children.
Snap type traps can be baited
with a small
piece of food to attract the
mice. Snap traps
with an expanded trigger are
often more effective
than those without. There are
also traps
than can catch up to a dozen
mice before
needing to be emptied.
- Glue boards will trap mice by entangling
them in a sticky substance
when they run
over the boards. The mice eventually
suffocate.
Mice do not travel far from their
nests,
so any control device must be
placed nearby.
These critters like to travel
next to the
edges of rooms and will run through
the interiors
of walls if they can. If the
control device
you have chosen does
not seem to work, move it to a different
location before deciding it is not doing
the job. Any mice caught in traps or on glueboards
need to be disposed of daily. You should
wear gloves when handling these devices (to
prevent contracting disease) and place the
carcasses in a plastic bag before disposing
of them. |
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