Commercial and Residential Mouse Control in Portland & Vancouver Area
Mouse Identification
Two species of mice are rampant in the Pacific Northwest: the house mouse and the deer mouse. If you suspect that you have a rodent infestation in your home or office, call the mouse control experts at PestLock as soon as possible.
House Mice
House MiceThese mice have small, slender bodies, weighing between 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce. The muzzle is pointed, ears are large, and the body is 3 to 4 inches long with the tail being as long as the body. While a house mouse is usually dark gray with a lighter-colored belly, multiple color variations are also possible, depending upon its habitat. House mouse droppings are rod-shaped with pointed ends and they measure about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long.
Deer Mice
These rodents are medium-sized, averaging about 6 inches in total length from the head to the tail. They are often mistaken for house mice, but their body is reddish-brown and their feet, belly, and underside of their tail are white in color. Also, their eyes, ears, and body are slightly larger than that of the house mouse.
About House Mice and Deer Mice
Both house mice and deer mice are prolific breeders, especially when living conditions are ideal. A female produces between four and seven pups per litter and as many as 13 litters in one year. Pups are born blind and naked. Within seven to 10 days, they are covered with fur and the eyes and ears are open. By the third or fourth week, the young are weaned and begin to feed on solid food. At five to six weeks of age, the new adults can mate and produce another litter within 19 days of conception. The average lifespan of both species is one year. However, they can live up to two years when there is plenty of water, food, and shelter.
Both breeds of mice prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. Both also prefer areas where food and nesting materials – including paper, books, cardboard, attic insulation, wood, cotton, and furniture stuffing – are readily available. The difference is that house mice prefer to construct nests within buildings or food storage areas, whereas deer mice prefer to build nests outdoors or in crawlspaces.
Like the house mouse, deer mice will enter homes and cause significant damage to furnishings, air ducts, and stored materials as they search for food and construct nests. Deer mice nests, however, are generally located in underground cavities near roots of trees or shrubs, beneath logs or boards, or in a tunnel built either by another animal or by the mouse itself. Sometimes, deer mice will establish above-ground nests in hollow trees, unused equipment, log piles, unused furniture, fence posts, old bird and squirrel nests, and along sill plates in basements and crawlspaces.
Foraging territories for both species are small, usually no more than 20 feet. In addition to human food, house mice will feed on insects and meat when available. Deer mice, however, prefer nuts, seeds, and berries. As nocturnal creatures, both feed at dusk and just before dawn. They can easily maneuver between holes and gaps that measure wider than a quarter inch. Additionally, they can jump 12 inches high and are capable of surviving drops as long as eight feet.
These mice can cause a plethora of problems. As nibblers, they can contaminate food and air systems with urine and excrement. They also carry parasites that can spread many diseases. They may destroy buildings by gnawing on plastic, cinder blocks, soft metals like lead, and aluminum and wire, which can cause a fire hazard. Having a rodent infestation in your home or office is a serious concern that should be addressed immediately.
PestLock offers residential and commercial mouse control in the Portland and Vancouver Metro areas. Additionally, we also offer crawlspace restoration services to ensure the space beneath your home is clean and free of rodents. Call our team of exterminators to request a free pest inspection today!
Customer Preparation for Mouse Control Treatment
Inside:
- Store pet food and garbage in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids
- Always clean pet excrement and spilled or unused pet food
Outside:
- Do no scatter food for wildlife (i.e. squirrels) and eliminate all bird feeders if mice are a serious problem
- Properly manage compost piles to prevent mice from using it as a potential food source
- Remove fallen fruits or nuts from trees and prune seed pods from lilac and other shrubs
- Store garden/lawn seed, bone meal, and similar items in rodent-proof containers
Customer Expectations Following Mouse Control Treatment
Depending on the extent of the rodent infestation is on your property, it may take time to fully exterminate them. The success of the mouse treatment also depends on the level of your compliance in eliminating food sources on your property. Once our exterminators complete the initial pest inspection, they will speak to you about proper expectations based on the unique type of infestation.