If you hear scratching in your walls or see small rod-shaped droppings on your kitchen counters, you may have mice living with you. Trust us – you don’t want them as roommates. They carry diseases and can do a lot of damage. You need to call a professional Portland pest control company such as Kanga Pest Control to get rid of your furry little problem.

What Do Mice Look Like?

There are eight different types of mice in the Portland area. Overall, they have triangular-shaped faces, oval bodies, and tails equal to or longer than their body length. Some have hairless ears, while others have hairless feet. The eight kinds of mice in Oregon are:

• Canyon mouse
• Western harvest mouse
• Deer mouse
• Piñon mouse
• Northern grasshopper mouse
• House mouse
• Western jumping mouse
• Pacific jumping mouse

Many times you won’t see the mouse themselves but rather signs of their presence, such as droppings, open food packages, nests, or gnaw marks.

How Dangerous Is It To Have Mice In My House?

The short answer is very. It’s extremely dangerous to have mice in your house for a variety of reasons. First, mice carry a variety of diseases, including:

• Hantavirus
• Leptospirosis
• Tularemia
• Salmonellosis
• Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)

These diseases can be spread by mouse droppings and urine as well as through direct contact. When you clean up after mice, make sure to use protective gloves and disposable paper towels. You don’t want to risk spreading disease via a sponge or wash rag.

So if you are wondering, “are mice in walls dangerous?” They are! They have to constantly gnaw on whatever’s handy because their teeth are continuously growing, typically more than four inches per year. If they gnaw on your pipes or electrical, they can cause significant water damage and fire hazards. In addition to the other damage and mess they make in your home, this makes it crucial to learn what keeps mice out of your house.

Why Do I Have Mice In My House?

Mice are interested in three basic things: food, water, and shelter. Your house provides all three. It starts in your yard. Piles of brush, tall grass, fallen leaves, other yard debris, and stacks of firewood can give mice a great place to live.

Bird feeders and pet food dishes offer mice great meals. They may also be attracted to your compost pile and your trash cans if they’re not properly covered.

Bird baths, pet water bowls, leaky faucets, malfunctioning sprinkler systems, and downspouts that don’t drain water far enough away from your house give mice all the water they need.

Mice are curious, and if they find food and water outside your house, they may go exploring to see what else they can find. If they find cracks or crevices big enough, they’ll come into your home, especially in late fall when the weather turns colder. Mice can fit through a hole as small as a dime and sneak through cracks the width of a pencil. They have collapsible rib cages, so if their head fits, their body will, too.

To keep mice out of the house, you need to remedy all the situations we just listed. Clean up your yard, stack firewood 6 to 12 inches off the ground, cover your compost pile and trash cans, remove food and water sources, and caulk all the nooks and crannies you can find.

How Do I Get Rid Of Mice In My House?

Taking steps to deter mice, such as cleaning up your yard, reducing excess moisture, and sealing cracks and crevices, are a great start for prevention, but once mice get into your home, it can take an expert to get them out for good. At Kanga Pest Control, we can help you eliminate any existing problems and prevent mice from coming back. Call or connect with us online today to find out more about our residential pest control services in Savannah.