How to Get Rid of Deer Mice
If left uncontrolled, deer mice can be troublesome and dangerous pests. They are the reservoir species of Hantavirus that causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and is extremely harmful to human health.
Common Preventative Measures
Preventive measures may be taken to ensure that an area does not become host to a deer mouse population.
Entryways
The use of rodent-proofing materials on entryways around the exterior ensures that these rodents cannot enter.
Seal holes
Regardless of size, all holes should be sealed with these materials; deer mice are able to pass through holes the size of a dime.
Lawns
Keeping weeds and grass mowed and removing clutter from the yard can make the property less attractive to deer mice.
Food containers
Defensive packaging of food will also help. Food containers made of stainless steel, glass and thick, heavy plastic are better than paper boxes and plastic bags.
Storage
Boxes and items stored in garages, attics or crawlspaces are ideal nesting sites for deer mice. These should be examined carefully. Try to keep these areas tidy so that mouse activity will be easier to spot.
Removing deer mice from the infested area oftentimes proves difficult. Most treatment methods involve traps.
Professional pest control is necessary to treat an existing deer mouse infestation.
Deer mice problems typically require the use of an Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) approach. Your Orkin pest management professional (PMP) will confirm the mouse pest as a deer mouse, then create a treatment plan. The plans depends where the deer mice are living (inside or outside). Once a treatment plan is prepared, the customer will be educated about what Orkin will do.
How Orkin Treats for Deer Mice
The Orkin PMP may employ both non-chemical and chemical methods. Non-chemical methods are not only effective, but also result in the need to use fewer chemical methods to achieve control.
Some effective non-chemical control procedures your PMP may recommend include:
-
Exclusion and sealing off sites that allow mice to enter a structure. Your PMP will seal openings greater than ¼-inch using screen, flashing, door sweeps, heavy-duty sealants and other exclusion materials. Keeping mice out of the structure is not always a simple project; however, exclusion is the single, best long-term way to deal with mice problems.
-
Sanitation measures to help minimize available food and water that attracts and supports a mouse population. Also, your PMP may recommend removing vegetation, debris or clutter that creates hiding places, if needed.
-
Using traps and other mechanical devices to kill or remove the mice.
Your PMP may also elect to use chemical products, such as rodent baits, that are formulated to kill mice. While baits are very effective, caution must be exercised to ensure that baits are properly placed and the instructions on the product’s label are strictly followed.