How Do Mice Get Into San Diego Homes?

Seeing a mouse run across the floor and into your pantry will have you screaming and maybe up on a chair, but finding mouse droppings on the kitchen counter or in your toaster will send you over the edge. Mr. & Mrs. House Mouse are no strangers to Southern California, quite the opposite actually. They have millions of family members just waiting to visit. That’s why Green Flash Pest Control is standing by to assist you.

What Is A House Mouse?

Meet your nemesis, the house mouse. He has no respect for your property, your wallet, or your health. He will chew his way into your home, and through wires or cables. He will destroy whatever he comes in contact with, costing you money. Worst of all, he will bring diseases into your home, and leave a trail of filth behind him. They can also bring in fleas and ticks, which cause a completely different problem. Here is a general description of a house mouse:

Brown, gray, or tan in color.
Adults are between five to eight inches long (not including the tail).
Three to four inches high.
Beady eyes.
Weighs about one ounce.

These mice are prolific breeders. On average a female mouse will give birth to 30-50 babies each year. They can mate almost immediately after delivery. This means it’s possible to have a new litter once a month.

How And Why They Get In

It’s very easy for a mouse to get into your home. Most people don’t even think about some of these areas, and that’s the way the mice like it.

Sewer lines - This is extra gross. If a mouse can gain entrance by swimming through the sewer lines, he won’t hesitate to do so, bringing diseases with him.
Though the garage - This is easy access for a mouse. Garage doors are usually open for extended periods, allowing the mice to enter freely.
Window openings and wall cracks - Mice can squeeze through the smallest of holes or cracks, even under doors if your door sweep is faulty.
Ventilation holes - Your home should have several ventilation holes allowing air to circulate, and keep your home free of moisture. The mice know about these holes, and use them to their advantage.
Outdoor holiday decorations - They may get cozy in your Nativity or Santa's beard, and when you pack them up, the mouse gets packed up too.

Mice Prevention Tips

Caulk all holes and cracks.
Cap off any unused sewer lines.
Keep garage doors closed when not in use.
Put a mesh screening over all ventilation holes. Cover the chimney.
Keep food stored in plastic containers
Clean out basements, closets, garages, and attics. Remove anything that a mouse could use as nesting material.
Tidy areas also make it more difficult for a mouse problem to go unnoticed.
Store firewood away from the house.

There are hundreds of DIY products available to homeowners. Poisons in every form, many types of traps, ultrasonic devices, and repellants. You can also opt for natural or herbal remedies, and mouse repelling landscaping. These will do well enough, but will never rid you of the entire infestation. Remember a mama mouse can have 50 babies a year, and then all the babies grow up. A female mouse is sexually mature at six weeks old. You do the math.

Getting Rid Of Them For Good

It’s always nice to keep it local. Green Flash Pest Control is a family-owned business, serving San Diego and Riverside County for the past 25 years. Their licensed and insured experts are serious about serving fellow Californians to the best of their abilities. Call for a mouse extermination appointment today.