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Do Mice Come Back After Extermination?
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Do Mice Come Back After Extermination?
Addressing mouse infestations in your home can be incredibly upsetting. The odors, sounds, and general disruption brought about by these pests can transform a cozy family dwelling into a zone of unease. Often, employing methods of extermination proves to be an effective way to tackle issues with mice.
Yes, mice can come back after extermination. This is the harsh reality of many homes that deal with a mice infestation after extermination. There are many reasons why mice may return after extermination. It can be due to; poor hygiene, poor food disposal, a lack of a prevention plan, and many other factors.
Below, we will discuss the reasons why mice can come back after extermination and what you can do to prevent them from coming back.
Why do mice come back after extermination?
Although Extermination may be the best way to get rid of mice, it does not guarantee that a mice infestation after extermination is ever happening.
This is because when the mice have been gotten rid of by extermination, certain steps have to be taken to prevent them from coming back. These steps are essential in keeping mice out of your home after extermination.
There are many reasons why mice will come back after extermination. They include;
1. Leaving crevices and holes open
After extermination, mice can return to your home if there are still crevices and holes for them to pass through. These crevices and holes serve as entrances for all sorts of home pests including mice.
If you leave them open after extermination, there is a high chance of re-infestation. These crevices and holes may also be expanded by the mice if not handled on time leading to a worse reinfestation.
2. Poor hygiene
Mice thrive in places with poor hygiene and poor sanitation. This is because there are usually more places to hide, more food scraps to eat, and so on. This means that if your home is dirty, it’s a jackpot for mice.
Dirty, scattered houses with food scraps and other waste products out in the open usually have debris that makes it easier for mice to find shelter and feed easily. This single mouse can be the start of mice infestation after extermination which may be hard to get rid of.
3. Poor food storage and disposal
Mice usually stay in places that offer them food and shelter. Poor storage habits usually mean that mice have easier access to food in their home. If after extermination, proper food storage is not implemented, mice will find a way back in that can lead to re-infestation.
Poor disposal of food waste can be the cause of a mice infestation. This is because these food scraps attract animals, especially rats that are in search of food. These rats may then find a way into your home causing a mice infestation after extermination.
4. Location
If you live in an apartment or house close to mice-infested locations such as restaurants, public parks, etc. You may find that mice keep coming back after extermination.
These locations are usually mice-infested because they have lots of human traffic and poor food and waste disposal that attracts mice. Homes close to such locations may face continued mice infestation even after an intense mice extermination by professionals.
5. Lack of a prevention plan
After extermination by a professional, they usually offer the affected household tips and guidelines on how to mouse-proof the home to prevent an infestation afterward.
This may include regular pest control to treat the cause of the issue, notes on points of entry of the mice, storage tips to prevent mice from getting into food, and so on. Not following recommendations by extermination experts may be the reason why mice come back after extermination.
How do I stop mice from coming back?
There are several ways that you can use to prevent mice from coming back. Mice infestations can be a nightmare to deal with and the chance they may reoccur is unfortunate.
However, there are some steps you can take to make sure that mice do not come back after extermination. They include;
1. Seal all possible points of entry for mice
This is one of the most important steps if you want to prevent mice infestation after extermination. Inspect all corners of your home and seal all openings with wire mesh, plaster, or any other durable material.
However, certain mice have been known to eat through drywall and plaster so enforce these barriers with metal wire mesh for best results ad mice find it hard to cut through preventing their re-entry into your home
2. Maintain a clean and uncluttered household
Since dirt and clutter attract mice and provide them with hiding spots, it is safe to assume that maintaining a clean and uncluttered household is a great way to prevent mice infestation after extermination.
Lack of clutter allows you to catch mice infestation on time which also gives a better chance for permanent removal after extermination.
3. Proper storage of food
One of the best ways to stop mice from coming back is to practice proper storage of food. This can be done very cost-effectively by sealing open foods in zip-lock bags, storing grains in air-tight containers, and so on.
By keeping food sealed and stored properly, mice have little to no access to food discouraging any infestation after extermination.
4. Proper food waste disposal
Improper waste disposal provides mice with desired food that can cause a high-level infestation. To prevent this from happening make sure to properly dispose of any degradable waste in an air-tight bin that is to be removed daily.
Also, leftovers should not be kept outside the fridge and all food spills must be cleaned up and disposed of immediately. This prevents mice from finding a food source in your home that will make them come back after extermination.
Since mice can go a few days without food, proper food storage and disposal must be observed consistently.
5. Meet up with regular pest control
If your extermination recommends three visits to completely get rid of mice, then make sure to book those three visits. This allows for better results and better chances of being mice-free longer.
Meeting up with regular pest control allows the exterminator to do the job completely while giving you a chance to ask for tips on how to maintain a household to prevent other mice infestations.
How do you know when all the mice are gone?
After mice extermination, how can you be sure that all the mice are gone? Well, there are a few things to watch out for. These factors usually indicate the presence or absence of mice. Signs to know that all the mice are gone include;
- A lack of fresh droppings or urine is usually an indicator that all the mice are gone. Fresh droppings are usually soft unlike old ones and indicate the presence of mice.
- The lack of that characteristic smell of mice can also be an indicator that all the mice are gone.
- Lack of noise usually made by mice. Mice can usually be heard at night while they scavenge for food in kitchens, pantries, etc.
- Undisturbed food and food trash. When there are mice, they usually dig through the trash looking for food, or eat any food left in the open. When all the mice are gone, this is no longer so.
- No scuttling of mice into dark corners. If you enter a dark room with mice you may hear them scuttle to hide. When all the mice are gone there’s no more scuttling of mice into dark corners.
How often should you exterminate mice?
Mice should be exterminated at least twice a year if you are dealing with a mice infestation. The higher the level of infestation, the more often you may need to exterminate. This is because high levels of infestation require continuous extermination to get rid of the mice permanently.
Although the Extermination of mice is one of the most effective methods of getting rid of mice. However, its effectiveness is not permanent as mice can reinfest a location again and again.
Having regular extermination sessions aggressively gets rid of mice while preventing any new mice from causing a re-infestation. It’s well known that the more often you exterminate mice, the lower the chance of them coming back after extermination is completed.
Is an exterminator worth it for mice?
We have been talking about how mice can come back after extermination. This may make you question whether or not it is worth it to hire a professional exterminator for mice.
Well, there are many reasons why hiring an exterminator is still worth it. They include;
- They are professionally trained to handle the chemicals used to get rid of the mice. These toxic chemicals can be very toxic and if not handled correctly can damage the house, furniture, etc. They can also be harmful to humans if inhaled for long periods or ingested. This is why they should only be handled by trained professionals.
- They can offer Insider tips on how to prevent or reduce the risk of mice coming back after extermination. After years of handling different sorts of exterminations in different states, exterminators are usually well-versed in tips on how to prevent mice from coming back after extermination.
- Exterminators usually have a set-out plan for long-term mice extermination that is very necessary, especially for homes that are in locations prone to mice infestation. This extermination plan usually focuses on dealing with the origin of the infestation to prevent or limit a reoccurrence.
- Exterminators usually have liability insurance to cover damage to your house or apartment in the process of extermination. Because these chemicals are very toxic, a small error may result in harm to a person or property. Hiring a professional exterminator usually means they have liability insurance to cover such liabilities.
- Hiring an exterminator is the best way to get rid of a high-level mice infestation as they are trained on how to handle such situations correctly and steps to prevent such a reoccurrence. High levels of infestation are the hardest to deal with and most times require a seasoned exterminator.
