If you have mice in your home, should you get an exterminator?

The last place you want to find mice is in your home. Not only is the idea of rodents in your home just plain icky, but they can also carry diseases and cause damage to your property if left to their own devices for too long. 

So you have mice to get rid of, but what’s the best way to go about it? Can you get rid of them yourself, or is it time to call in the professionals? 

If you want to try doing it yourself, there are some great options available. For mice you could use mouse traps, make sure to spread them out and place them along the mouse’s pathway, usually between the floor and wall. If you can find their entry points, how they are getting into your house, set up traps there too.

If you have pets or young children bait boxes are a perfect option as the bait is safely kept inside the box and a key and lock mechanism will make sure small hands or nosey paws can’t get inside. 

For rats and larger rodents snap traps and large bait stations can be used in the same way.

Something important to consider is where you live. If you are out in the country chances are there will always be mice around. In this case, prevention is key. Take the time to locate the entry points, where they are getting into your house. It would be a good idea to check the basement, the attic and any crawlspaces. Additionally, they could be entering the building through cracks around doors or windows. Make sure to fill any potential entry points, including small holes. 

What if you live in a city? It could be that your neighbours have rats or mice and that’s how they are getting in. In that event your home may not be the root of the problem. An exterminator coming in to treat the entire building could be the best option to completely eradicate the infestation. The big question is how big is the problem? Is it just a few mice that can easily be caught, or do you have a major infestation, meaning it’s time to call in the professionals.

How can you decide if you have an infestation on your hands?

First up are mouse droppings, small black pellets. An odd few here and there and you might just have a couple of mice, but if you find droppings in multiple areas of your home, it’s clear that the problem is bigger than you can handle by yourself. 

Another thing to look out for is property damage, are you finding chewed electrical wiring or holes in baseboards? You don’t want the problem to get out of hand, as soon as you notice any damage you want to get rid of rodents. If left unchecked, mice and rats could damage your property to a point where the costs involved to fix it are extremely high.

Perhaps by now you have tried the ‘do it yourself’ method. If, after eliminating some of your pests, you are still finding new droppings or damage, it may be a sign that you do have infestation. In that case, it may be worth getting the opinion of an exterminator. Once you decide that an exterminator is needed, they will come to your home and ask questions to determine how big the issue is. After getting rid of the rodents, they should also explain to you what preventative measures you need to take, in order for the infestation to not reoccur. Follow up visits or extra monthly services will likely also be needed. Make sure to ask questions, make sure that you are fully aware of everything that is included in the exterminator’s services. 

 In conclusion, there are great products available to get rid of mice and rats in your home and using them is definitely the most logical first step. However, if it seems like the problem is bigger than you can handle, an exterminator is the next best option. Things can escalate quickly, so if you find that after a reasonable amount of time you can’t get rid of the problem yourself, it’s time to get on the phone and get the professionals in! 

Sources: https://todayshomeowner.com/pest-control/guides/when-to-call-an-exterminator-for-mice/