House
mice are extremely prolific breeders. At 35 days of age they mature and
carry embryos for 18 to 21 days. The average litter size is about six.
They eat about the same kinds of food as do human beings, including meats,
grains, cereals, seeds, fruits and vegetables. They prefer sweet liquids
to pure water for drinking. Because mice scurry from place to place and
deposit fecal droppings wherever they please, the easiest way to determine
if mice are present is to locate their droppings. Other signs include gnaw
marks, small holes in walls and doors, and the pungent odor of their urine.
Odor
Control
The
area with the odor must be ventilated thoroughly. You may need to open
doors and windows, and use a fan to move the air. Ventilation is very effective
since you remove the air which has the odor. The affected area can also
be treated with air deodorizers, such as a solid wick type, to mask the
odor. The results of this treatment can vary. The odor may last one or
two weeks
Traps need
not even be baited, just put them where the mice will trip across them.
However,
we’ve found peanut butter is an excellent attractant.
Proper
trap placement is the trick.
The
proper way to place a mouse trap.
Glue boards
can be effective when other methods have failed against a "bait-shy" mouse
or when food is abundant.
Have a Mouse control question?
Post it on IPCO message board.
Links:
United
Exterminating
Rodent
Pests
House
Mouse biology and habits
