Mice control and removal in Calgary

Although portrayed as cute and cuddly by the media, mice carry harmful diseases and can be extremely destructive if they get into your home or business. Fortunately, Poulin’s Pest Control in Calgary carries several rodent control products to keep mice from taking up residence on your property. If the problem persists, we can visit your property to determine the best way to control your pest problem and prevent an infestation.

We serve commercial and residential clients in Alberta and throughout the Prairies. Contact us today and ask about our mouse control products and removal services in Calgary.

Mice in Calgary

Mice are small rodents that have adapted remarkably well to human environments. Measuring between 5 and 13 centimetres (2 to 5 inches) in length, excluding their tails, and weighing approximately 14 to 30 grams (0.5 to 1 ounces), these creatures may be diminutive in size, but their impact can be significant when they find their way indoors.

Mice exhibit a wide range of behaviours making them both fascinating and challenging creatures to deal with. These rodents prefer to be active during the night. They are prolific breeders, with a single pair capable of producing dozens of offspring in a year. Their diet is omnivorous and encompasses grains, seeds, insects, vegetables, fruits, human food, and pet food.

Mice are known for their keen sense of hearing and smell. Despite some myths, mice can see although they have relatively poor eyesight. They are quick, agile climbers and as adults can squeeze through openings as small as a dime.

Mice are resourceful when it comes to infiltrating human habitats. They can enter buildings through gaps in windows, doors, and foundations, as well as through openings for utilities such as pipes. Mice are also excellent climbers and can use overhanging tree branches or vines to access roofs where they might find entry points. Once inside, they establish nests in hidden, warm, and sheltered locations, such as wall voids, attics or crawl spaces. Their nests are often constructed from shredded paper, fabric, and other soft materials.

Mice can cause extensive damage to properties and personal belongings. Their incessant gnawing on wood, insulation, and wiring poses a significant risk of electrical fires in structures. Moreover, their droppings and urine are potential health hazards and can contaminate food, working, and living areas. Mice are known carriers of various diseases, including hantavirus, salmonellosis, tularemia, E. coli-related illnesses, and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with mouse droppings, urine, or saliva. This is why mouse control and removal services are essential at the first sign of a mouse indoors.

Poulin’s Pest Control in Calgary offers rodent control products to help deter and keep mice out of your home, including:

• Rodents Away Odor Free is a domestic mouse repellent made from natural ingredients. It’s safe for use around humans, pets, and animals. Follow the instructions on the label to drive mice away or prevent them from coming indoors.

• Mhouse Refillable Bait Station is a domestic-labelled rodenticide. Each kit has one reusable bait station, 12 bait blocks, and a special locking key. Place the station where mice are going or where their traces are found.

• Snap-E® Snap traps are effective, easy to use, and made to last. The vertical strike bar is faster than the bar in old-fashioned wooden traps because it travels just half the distance to catch mice.

• Tin Cat Glue Boards can be used alone or with the Tin Cat Repeater multiple-catch mouse trap. Disposal is easy. The glue boards are also great at catching and monitoring bug populations!

If your mice infestation gets out of control, contact the professionals at Poulin’s Pest Control. We can find and eliminate the source of your pest problem.

Poulin’s pest management professionals use a systematic and thorough approach to eliminate mouse infestations with a combination of techniques. The duration of the process can vary depending on the severity of the infestation and the specific strategies employed.

• Inspection. The initial step in mouse extermination is a comprehensive inspection. Professionals carefully assess the premises to identify signs of mouse activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks, and nesting sites. They also pinpoint entry points, which can be gaps and cracks in walls, foundations, doors, and windows.

• Exclusion. Sealing gaps and cracks is a critical component of mouse control. Professionals employ a variety of materials including mesh and foam to close off potential entry points. This prevents mice from entering the premises and helps to fortify the structure against future infestations.

• Placing traps and poison. Placement of traps and poison is a key strategy in mouse extermination. Professionals choose tools based on the specific conditions of the infestation, using traps and bait stations strategically placed along known mouse pathways and near entry points. Traps provide a quick method of capturing mice while bait stations containing rodenticides attract and eliminate mice that consume the toxic bait.

• Education. Pest management professionals help to educate clients on proper sanitation practices, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean environment and controlling nutrition sources by covering or storing food in hard, sealed containers. Promptly addressing structural issues, outdoor food sources, and outdoor areas that can shelter mice can significantly reduce the attractiveness of a property to mice.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about mouse control and removal in Calgary:

1. What type of damage do mice cause?

Mice can cause structural damage by burrowing into insulation, gnawing through electrical wires and causing electrical shorts and fires. They can chew into furniture, clothing, and other items. Mice can contaminate food and can also spread disease when people or animals come into contact with areas or items mice have visited.

2. Will I have odour issues when mice die?

When a mouse succumbs to rodenticides within a structure, the location of its demise becomes unpredictable. Mice tend to gravitate toward hidden areas when unwell. These nesting sites may be situated in various places, including wall voids, roof spaces, outdoor burrows, and more. Occasionally, mice might expire in more exposed areas such as a kitchen floor. The odour can become more noticeable if the mouse passes away in proximity to a heat source such as a hot water tank, furnace, or refrigerator motor. Fortunately, odour-related issues arising from mouse deaths are infrequent and are an improvement over live mouse activity.

3. How long does it take for pest control to get rid of mice?

If mouse entry points into a structure have been sealed and food sources have been controlled, you are likely to see results of a rodent control program fairly soon. If a rodenticide is used, you may see coloured droppings which means a rodent has consumed bait. If mouse activity persists, you may need a Poulin’s pest control professional to return to your property to evaluate the situation and make necessary adjustments for continued success.

4. Why didn’t my mouse treatment work?

The personal habits of people and the security of the structure play a significant role in whether mouse treatments are effective. Recurring mouse infestations after treatments can stem from mice having good habitat conditions with food and shelter indoors or outdoors and finding a way inside.

5. Are mice droppings dangerous?

Mice droppings are dark brown and close to the size of a grain of rice. Mouse feces can transmit several harmful diseases, including hantavirus, E. coli, and salmonella. Hantavirus is particularly dangerous because it can spread through the air. Follow these steps when cleaning up mouse feces:

• Wear a mask, protective gloves, boots, and long sleeves and pants
• Spray the contaminated area with a disinfectant and let it soak according to label directions
• Ventilate the area to get rid of any lingering particles in the air
• Remove disinfected droppings with a paper towel and dispose of them in a plastic bag before throwing them away in a garbage bin outdoors

After the rodent droppings have been removed, disinfect other items or areas that might have been contaminated.

6. How do you tell the difference between mice and rats?

Although mice and rats are both rodents, rats are much larger than mice and have a blunt snout and a scaly, hairless tail. Mice have short, slender bodies, triangular snouts and hairy tails. If you are not sure what type of rodent infestation you have, an expert from Poulin’s Pest Control can come identify and eradicate the culprit.

7. How do I prevent mice from getting into my property?

There are several things you can do to keep mice out of your home or business, including:

• Seal openings and cracks with a non-rusting metal mesh followed by caulking and applying weatherstripping as needed
• Install a chimney cap
• Remove clutter and cut back vegetation that would offer shelter to mice in your yard
• Cover your trash and keep it as far away as possible from your house or business
• Inspect the exterior of the house or building every year for any repairs that may need to be done

If you want to go a step further, you can set traps and use mouse repellents around the perimeter of your property to keep rodents at bay.

8. How do I permanently get rid of mice?

Timely detection plays a crucial role in minimizing the impact of a rodent infestation. Stay vigilant for potential signs of intruders such as droppings, nests, food caches, chewing and scurrying noises, and gnaw marks on food, wood, and other items.

Take proactive measures to secure the structure of your home or business by sealing any cracks or holes the size of a dime or larger and any gaps such as under doors exceeding six millimetres. Replace loose mortar around the foundation and weatherstripping around windows. Keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces dry and well-ventilated to prevent weakened areas that rodents can enter through. Address potential entry points by installing door sweeps, using proper vent covers, and repairing damaged screens.

Keep food, pet food, and seeds in tough, sealed containers while maintaining clutter-free living, working, and storage areas. Regularly dispose of garbage to eliminate potential food sources.

It is crucial to understand that a mouse infestation may not disappear overnight, and neglecting the issue can exacerbate the problem. Remain vigilant for telltale signs of infestations. Some positive news is that with effective pest control including preventive measures, eradication of mice from your home or business is achievable.

Mouse and rodent control and removal services in Calgary

Poulin’s Pest Control provides comprehensive mouse control and removal services for residential and commercial customers in Calgary. Our team employs the latest technology to eliminate your rodent infestation. Contact us today at our Calgary office for a free estimate on mouse and pest control solutions.