Whilst mice are not as synonymous with being pests as the more well-known rats, they can still be a nuisance to homes and businesses, and if you have a mice infestation, it can cause serious problems to buildings and people. In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about mice, their habits, and effective pest control methods.
There are six different species of mice in the UK, some of these don’t cause pest control problems in homes and businesses. Mice have an average lifespan of around 18 months. The three main species of mice that can be a problem and may need pest control are field mice, house mice, and yellow-necked field mice.
Species | Characteristics |
Field Mouse | Field Mice are between 80 to 100mm in length, with an extra 70 to 90mm for their tail. They have brown fur, ranging from sandy to orange-brown, with lighter yellowish fur on their flanks and white fur on their belly. Some Field Mice also have a small yellow streak on their chest. |
House Mouse | House Mice are smaller than Field Mice and grow between 70 to 90mm long with a tail of around the same length. House Mice have smaller feet and heads but have large eyes and ears, distinguishing them from young brown rats. |
Yellow-Necked Field Mouse | Yellow-necked field mice can grow between 95 to 120mm in length with a tail between 75 to 110mm. They are often bigger than other common UK mice. They have brown fur on their backs with white fur on their underside. They get their name from the distinctive band of yellow fur around their necks. |
Field Mouse
As the same suggests, Field Mice prefer to spend their time outdoors and will rarely venture inside. However, in the winter months, Field Mice will enter sheds or other standalone structures in search of food sources. This makes Field Mice more of a threat to businesses, such as farms or food storage than homeowners.
House Mouse
House Mice are far more common intruders in our homes and are active all year round in the search for food. House mice usually live at ground level and are burrowers, but they can also climb. House Mice will enter your home or business in search of food and prefer to eat cereals.
Yellow-Necked Field Mouse
Yellow-necked field mice are more common in rural areas and will enter homes and businesses in search of food. They make their home in hedges, gardens and rural buildings. They can pose a fire risk as they can easily gnaw through electrical wiring.
The biggest sign of mice in your home or business is mice droppings. Other signs include gnawing damage, shredded materials, disrupted food, or strong unpleasant smells. Mice are usually nocturnal and can remain hidden for a long time before signs of their activity become apparent.
As well as causing damage to your property such as gnawed wires, mice can also spread diseases, such as hantavirus, salmonella, toxoplasmosis and Weil’s disease, that can be passed on to humans and pets.
Mice can cause substantial damage to your property with their gnawing and can damage everything from insulation and clothing for nesting materials to pipes, doors and floorboards to gain entry to your property. They can also cause fire and electrical risks.
Mice will also contaminate foodstuffs with their faeces and urine if it is not properly stored. Check for common signs of mice which will help identify a problem early, ensuring that quick and effective treatment can occur as soon as possible.
Not only will a mouse infestation in your home cause distress to you and your family, but it can also cause a genuine health risk as they contaminate food, countertops and other surfaces in their search for shelter and food. Mice can also cause extensive damage to your floorboards, furniture and even your electrical wiring.
Many people do not worry about pest problems until they occur and have little knowledge on what to do. While there are a number of DIY mouse control methods, such as mouse poison or snap traps, the best and most effective way to remove your mouse problem for good is to call in a professional pest control expert if you are worried about a pest infestation in your home.
A mouse infestation can represent different levels of risk to a business, depending on their industry, size and legislation requirements. However, a mouse problem can be an issue to any business and can result in a loss of reputation, customers, employee morale, operation efficiency and ultimately profit.
While a small mouse presence can probably be dealt with by the use of traps, a bigger infestation will require professional assistance to control. Our expert pest control technicians will have to carry out a site survey as the extent of the infestation will probably be bigger than you imagine, as mice can travel quite extensively. Our experts can devise a programme of mouse control and prevention tailored to your specific needs.
VermEx is a family-run pest control company with over 30 years of experience in providing a professional pest control service to commercial clients across the North of England, including Manchester, York & Leeds. We pride ourselves on our ability to quickly and effectively react to our customer’s needs and provide an unparalleled level of service that is individually tailored to their needs.
If your restaurant, hotel, warehouse, or other business premises has a mouse infestation, get in touch with us today and we can arrange a free quote.
Pest control problems and mice infestations can be disruptive and inconvenient for businesses. Throughout the North of England, we provide effective and cost-effective commercial pest control services to a wide range of commercial, industrial, and agricultural businesses.
Over the last 30 years, VermEx has dealt with a wide range of pests with tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. You can be confident that our professional pest control solutions will provide you with peace of mind regardless of what your pest management problem may be. Contact our pest control experts if you have a pest problem on your commercial property.
