Mouse Treatment
Barnard Pest Control are experts in all types of Mouse
Pest Control in Maidstone
and across Kent.
Contact us today for a free
no obligation quote.
Pest Advice
Dealing with Mice
Mice are one of the most common pest species found in the UK. They are active all year round making and when they enter your property, commercial or domestic, they can become a cause of concern.
Why Do We Control Mice?
Mice are a public house pest and pose a serious harm to humans. They can spread diseases such as salmonella and listeria, neither of which you want to catch. They spread disease in their urine, droppings and bedding. As they move around your home they are spreading harmful bacteria and dirt transferring it across all surfaces, food items, cabinets and pantries,
as well as anywhere else they go on their travels.
They can also cause huge issues in your home or
commercial premises as they constantly need to gnaw
in order to keep their teeth at a manageable length. Electric cables, water and gas pipes, packaging and woodwork may all be seriously damaged by mice - many instances of electrical fires and floods have been attributed to them.
Mice In Your Business
All land and property owners have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep all premises rodent free or if they pose a threat to health or property it must be reported to the local authority. Owners of food businesses are under obligation to keep premises pest free under the Food Safety Act 1990 which is why it is so important to have a pest control contract in place for your food business. Barnard Pest Control can put a regular package in place to prevent infestations from happening and to give you expert advice on how to prevent them. Environmental Health Officer or General Health Enforcement Offices can issue enforcement notices to business owners who don't have adequate pest management procedures in place, if owners do not comply they can face hefty fine or event a prison sentence and criminal record. Customers will almost certainly see or hear of any rodent infestation which could seriously damage your reputation.
Where Do Mice Come From And How Do I Spot Signs Of Them?
Mice are inquisitive animals and they can squeeze themselves through spaces as small as 5mm wide. They will be on the hunt for a constant source of food and shelter, which many homes and businesses can provide them.
A mouse infestation can spread quickly in your home or place of business, especially if there is a constant source of food available. Thick bushes, foliage and vegetation near your property provide the perfect shelter for the mice to live in until the weather turns colder and they move into your property.
There are some common tell-tale signs that mice are living in your home or business premises, a few of these are:
Mice droppings - these are often black, and about the size and shape of a grain of rice. Fresh droppings will be soft and moist. Each mouse can leave approximately 80 droppings per day. Common places to find mouse droppings are under the kitchen sink, around central heating boilers and in roof spaces
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Strong ammonia smell - mice urinate frequently
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Smear marks - these are dark grey marks left on surfaces by repeated contact with the oils in mouse fur
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Nests - sometimes nests can be found indoors for example in lofts, under floorboards or in airing cupboards
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Damage to stored food in cupboards and pantries
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Gnaw marks on materials such as wood, carpets, paper, pipe cables and furniture.
How Can I Stop My Cat Bringing Mice Home?
Unfortunately, as horrible as it can be this is a common part of being
a cat owner. There's not a great deal in the way of prevention
but you can try:
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Have a house cat. Some cats are bread to be house cats and do not venture outside.
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Buy a collar with a bell, let Jerry hear that your cat is coming!
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Play with your cat more, one of the reasons they hunt is more mental stimulation.
How Do I Prevent Mice From Entering My Property?
We always tell our client that prevention is always better than cure. When we visit a new client who has a mouse problem we also undertake a full survey which includes checking the drains and finding those tell tale signs of where the mice have entered the building. We carry out proofing to prevent the mice from getting in again as well as exterminating the mice that are already in the property.
As well as proofing, cut down any unnecessary bushes and shrubbery near the property where the mice can shelter until they are ready to enter the home or business. Another good way to prevent them from entering your home or business is not to give them a good source of food. Make sure any discarded good packaging/crumbs etc are cleared up and disposed of correctly.
Why Get A Professional Pest Controller To Deal With The Mouse Problem
Professional pest controllers are trained in mouse control and have access to rodenticides which are not available to the public.
Knowing how much, where, and when to deploy products is where professionals are able to take control of situations efficiently.
Professional pest controllers will take an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to tackling your infestation.
A pest professional will have access to monitoring equipment, which they will use to confirm entry points into your property, the size of the infestation and to track the mouse to its harbourage (nest).
They can then recommend a proofing strategy and decide on the best course of action in terms of control; this could be traps, rodenticides or a combination of both.
Contact us today for a free no obligation quote and to book in to eradicate your mouse problem.